“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.”

Matthew 1:18‭-‬24

Joseph had a problem-a big problem! He was engaged to the girl of his dreams but she comes to him with this story about an angel who had visited her and said she’d be the mother of the Messiah. At first he shrugged it off thinking she’d had a bad dream, but now it was becoming painfully obvious that she indeed was pregnant! Joseph was devistaed! He loved Mary. He’d loved her since childhood, but now this! Though he wanted to believe her story, he knew what people would say-what his own family would say! By law, he could have her stoned to death, but he loved her! What would he do?

While he thought this over, thye same angel, Gabriel, came to him. He said, “Don’t be afraid” ( angels always say that)! Only Gabriel said “don’t be afraid to marry Mary!” Joseph agreed, against all odds-I mean, how often does a virgin have a baby?!?!? Who knew where this would take them as a couple?

Joseph did however, know Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming Messiah: “The virgin will conceive a child! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.” So Joseph decided to obey God and even under personal fire, he decided to obey God, marry Mary and raise the Son of God-Jesus, as his own!

Are you like Joseph, willing to obey God, even if it takes going out on a limb for Him?
Joseph did and changed he world!

Think about it!