11/04 Matthew 1:18-23
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. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 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. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “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.’”
AFRAID
The Word from Matthew is “Do Not Be Afraid.” The Lord loves you. He knows what is going on and His promise to you is do not be afraid because God is with us. Even in a time when evil is again on the march, we do not have to fear what we are facing for the Lord God Almighty is with us. DO NOT BE AFRAID. You are beloved of God! Jesus is Lord.
