Can dreams be real?  Joseph had a dream that was very important for him and for the whole world.  Joseph was a good man, trying to do what was right.  He was making a choice based on what he understood to be right or wrong.  But in the dream, the angel came to bring a deeper truth, a truth not yet realized or understood by anyone, even the “good” people. The angel was a messenger, sent by God to speak God’s truth.

The angel explained that Mary would have God’s child.  “God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son.  And this is why:  so that no one needs to be destroyed…anyone who believes in Him can have a whole and lasting life.  God didn’t send His Son to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was.  He came to help, to put the world right again.” (Message Bible, John 3:16-17).  The angel says, “You will name the baby Jesus, which means Savior.”

In the drawing above I wanted to express the Love of God for the world.  If we put ourselves in Joseph’s place, sometimes it is not always easy to choose what is right or wrong.  If we aren’t sure, the true measurement is Love.  Love is always greater.  So if it is hard to decide which side to stand on, we should always choose Love.  Love is always the greater truth.  God is Love.  Joseph chose Love.

The angel also told Joseph that the child is called Immanuel, which means “God with us”.  Jesus is God coming to earth so God can humanly, physically be with us.  Above is a photo of my son Steve, holding his son for the first time when he was just born.  Can you imagine that Joseph wakes up from his dream into a new reality, a new truth.  He will actually hold the baby in his arms who is GOD WITH US! Wow! What a dream come true!!

Questions to think about…

When have you realized a greater truth than you knew before because of Love?

Can you imagine what it would be like to actually  hold baby Jesus?  When have you held Love?

How do you know God is with you?

nk