Building on the Foundation

There are few biblical characters more ignored than Joseph, the father of Jesus. He is generally viewed as an aside, simply the somewhat unnecessary husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and after all, Jesus could have been born and raised without Joseph around at all. Mary was genuinely the first and only woman to exist who seemingly really didn’t need no man.  However, Joseph is far more than just an aside; in fact, he is as important to the birth of Jesus as Mary herself. Of course, the role of a father in a child’s life is irreplaceable, but more than that, with Joseph, his bloodline was irreplaceable, and I believe he was especially selected by God for the lineage of Jesus the Anointed.  You see, Scripture never traces a lineage through a woman, and you won't find any place where it explicitly identifies Mary’s lineage. Was she of the House of David? We aren’t told explicitly, but her cousin Elizabeth is said to be of the daughters of Aaron (Luke 1:5).  That’s the on...

  We live in a world driven by pride, greed, and envy. A world focused on self and advancing oneself. “You need more!” society exclaims. More money, more power, more toys, more fame… whatever someone else might have that you don’t. Power, wealth, and fame are status symbols in this society. The more of them you have, the more important you are. If you have these things, other people will look up to you and think you’re someone special. But this isn’t the view of Almighty God! In the eyes of our Creator, one’s wealth, power, and social status have no bearing on his or her value. All are equal under God’s law, from the President of the United States to the homeless woman sleeping on the park bench. No one’s social status will matter when standing before the judgment seat of God. True Value Speaking through Moses, God commanded the Israelite judges, “You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man's presence,...