He Was A Good Man

Scripture:

19 Joseph, her fiancé, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly. 20 As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:19-21 NLT)

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife, (Matthew 1:24 NLT)

13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up and flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to try to kill the child.” (Matthew 2:13 NLT)

19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and told him, 20 “Get up and take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” (Matthew 2:19-20 NLT)

Joseph has always been a hero of mine. He sure got more than he bargained for when he asked Mary to marry him. He had to do more, make more changes to his life, and be faithful in all he did. First of all, his response to finding out that Mary was pregnant before they married, was to not disgrace her. But when God talked to him in a dream, he woke and did what the angel of the Lord commanded. Then he walked with Mary through all the difficult time of her pregnancy, and all the things that people said and did to them. And beyond all of that, he continued to hear God and respond to all God told him to do. I need to be/can be as ready to respond to God when he speaks as Joseph was. I may not be in the same circumstances, but I serve the same God.

Thank You, Lord for the example and life of Joseph. He indeed was a good man. I want to learn more and more to respond to You with faith when You speak to me. I love You, and love Your ways. AMEN

Yes Lord, Your law is perfect and revives the soul. Your decrees are trustworthy and make wise the simple. Your commandments are right and bring joy to the heart. Reverence for You is pure, lasting forever. Psalm 19

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