Devotional:No Need to Fear:Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:30; 2:10

Larry was a sophomore in high school. One night Larry and two friends stopped on their way home to talk with a friend. The conversation turned to ghosts or spirits. One story was about a dead woman named Miss Hannaway. The street that Larry and his friends lived on was named after her. According to the story Miss Hannaway was often seen walking around a barn that was about fifty yards off the main road. It was getting late and Larry became afraid even though talk about ghost had never caused him to fear before. The more Larry thought about having to walk down Hannaway Road past the barn the more frightened he became. He tried to talk himself out of his fear. He passed by that barn all the time and he had never seen a ghost. Larry telephoned his dad. He explained to his daddy the situation that he was in. He was surprised when his daddy agreed to pick him up and take him home. He really expected his dad to refuse his request and to criticize him for being so afraid. Daddy picked him up and took him home. Dad never said a word except to ask him if he was alright.

Joseph was engaged to a virgin named Mary. Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. When Mary told Joseph her story, that she had been visited by an angel who told her that she would be with child by the Holy Ghost (Spirit) it was the most unbelievable story he had ever heard. Joseph was a righteous man based on the law. He should break the engagement with Mary because of her unfaithfulness to her wedding vows. This too was written in the law. Joseph wanted to follow the law, but he did not want to embarrass her. He could not make up his mind how to handle the situation.

Joseph went to sleep and while asleep he had a dream. In his dream an angel spoke to him. He said: Don’t be afraid (do not fear) to take Mary to be your wife because her pregnancy is not from her being unfaithful. Indeed it is as she told you. She is with child by the Holy Spirit. The angel of God had spoken to him, and that was all that he needed to calm his fear. Joseph married Mary and she gave birth to her first born Son and named Him Jesus.

There are a lot of things that cause us to fear. Jesus calms our fears when we hear His words audibly or hear his voice in our hearts when we read our bibles prayerfully. When we do what God tells us to do, we have no need to be afraid. We can avoid fear if we know that God is with us in every situation. He is with us in this life, and He will be with us in the life to come. All that we need to do is believe the Word of God and accept him as our Lord and Savior.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, our fears are gone because we believe Your words. Amen.