The story of Jesus' conception and birth piqued my curiosity, especially at this time of year when we gather to celebrate. Matthew is the perfect place to start since I just finished the Chronicles, and Matthew continues the royal genealogy of our Savior. Did you know that Joseph and Mary share the same lineage? Whether you trace Jesus' lineage through Joseph or Mary, it leads you back to King David. This information covers those of us who say, "Well, Joseph wasn't the dad; the Holy Spirit was!" God thinks of everything, crossing every T and dotting every I.
One lesson we find in Matthew 1 is that God preserved Mary's good name. Her marriage to Joseph was promised, yet they hadn't consummated it, and she was pregnant. He did the right thing and kept her pure until after the birth of our Savior. You can believe that if you are doing the will of God, like Mary, He will preserve your good name. If you've ever been hurt by someone saying to you or behind your back, "I thought they were a Christian," God will protect you from a damaged reputation and from the fiery darts that the enemy throws at you if you are doing His will. If you haven't had that said about you, are you even proclaiming him?
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. Matthew 1:20
FYI - the nativity is not biblically accurate. Angels were not women, and the wisemen were not there at Jesus' birth.
