Joseph Believed The Word

He believed the word of the Lord brought
to him by the angel of the Lord.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matt 1:20-21 KJV)

You're going to be a father even though you are not the father! Can you imagine what was going through Joseph's mind when he found out that Mary was pregnant? Yet, Joseph trusted; he believed the words of the angel of the Lord and took Mary and the child to be his family. 

Being a parent is a big responsibility; but, being the parent to the Son of God! How big of a responsibility is that!?

Joseph knew that this child that he and Mary would raise would inevitably save God's people from their sins.  Not only a big responsibility for the people who would raise him; but, how confusing that must have seemed. How would this child save them? What would the child's future be like? What would their lives be like? 

Anyone who finds themselves about to be a parent might have similar concerns no matter how joyful they might be over the upcoming event. Will I be a good parent? Hopefully, those who ask this question understand and are willing to give more of themselves to raise the child. Sometimes, it calls for a change in lifestyles or where one lives; even where one might work. Sometimes and usually bringing children into the world means we must be less selfish and make the children's needs over our own desires. 

Thanks be to God for picking Joseph to be the father of Jesus! Joseph was willing because he trusted in the word of the Lord brought to him by the angel of the Lord.

May God help us to trust the Lord's promises. 

"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." (Isa 54:13 KJV)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Faith, Hope, Love

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Cor 13:13 KJV)

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor 13:13 NIV)

Faith, hope, charity or love for one another that we might be most charitable in word and deed to those around us are most important to living life most fully. 

Where faith is there will also grow in us the seeds of hope and love. Without faith we not will not even be able to see as though we are looking through a glass, darkly and when we cannot hope will not survive and love will expire.

When hope dies our faith in the one who loves us and desires that we live with and in him also dies. When hope dies, faith and love will soon follow suit.

When love dies there will be no charitable acts of kindness toward others. We will consider only our own selfish desires. 

When love dies both hope and faith will also go. We will become like the walking dead, dried out old bones if we leave behind faith, hope, and charitable acts born out of love. Without faith, hope, and love there is nothing; but, emptiness.

May God keep you in his Word that you might know these greatest gifts of faith, hope, and charity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

According To His Will

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14 NIV)

According to His will...  Why did this happen? Why did I not get what I asked for? So many times we wonder why God did not answer our prayers totally forgetting that what we have asked for may go directly against His good will. His good will encompasses not just us; but, all people. When we pray we must keep in mind that selfish prayers may not be heard. They very well may not be answered in the way that we would like them to be answered. God has a better view of what all people need, including ourselves, and what we need may not be what we're asking for.

May God help us to better understand His will that we might pray for the good of all people.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Prayer of Jabez

Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!” And God granted what he asked. (1 Chron 4:10 NRSV)

Among the descendants of Judah, is Jabez. In the middle of the list of Judah's descendants is a description of this one obscure son. He is born in pain. He is a humble man who prays to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!" (4:10) God answered his prayer. It does not say how. It just says that he answered this prayer.

Now, I'm thinking the fact that he prayed for these things and that God answered has to be pretty important; otherwise, why would this man's prayer be placed in the middle of this genealogy? I have heard many critiques of this prayer. Yet, I pray it often for others, whom I love. It is a simple prayer. Jabez asked God to bless him, to keep him from harm and to enlarge his borders or territories. The critique I've often heard is that the enlarging territories is about riches. Presumably there are some who would turn Jabez' humble prayer into a selfish prayer.

However; for Christian, our borders are on the mission field. We do not look at this prayer as a magical means to fill our pockets, but a prayer that God would bless us with missions, with outreach to the whole world.

Who would not want their loved ones to be blessed by the LORD, to be kept from harm and know no pain and to have ever expanding borders to proclaim the praises of God? Oh, LORD, expand our territory so that we might reach out to even more, to the multitudes, with the Good News of your Kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Lack Of Love Will Destroy You

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Gal 5:13-15 NIV)

I have been around for awhile and I have seen it all too often. I have witnessed those who know that they have been set free, by the blood of Christ, to love and to serve God as well as one another; bite one another to fulfill their personal desires. I have seen people climb the ladder of success on the backs of others. I have heard lies to make oneself look good (even like a victim) in order to get ahead of others; even as they destroy the lives of others under false pretenses. And, sadly, this getting ahead isn't usually even getting ahead very far in this world. It is merely to satisfy some selfish motivation to make oneself feel better about oneself (feed one's own ego) or to look better in the eyes of someone they hope to impress for whatever reason. 

Take heed and listen to the words of St. Paul to the Galatians: "'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each others."

God help us to learn to serve one another humbly in love.

God's Peace - Pr. J