Bible Reading: Matthew 1:18–25; Matthew 2:13–15
Key Verse:
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” (Matthew 1:24)
The Bible never records a single spoken word from Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus—yet his obedience still speaks today.
Joseph had plans for his life: marry Mary, start a family, live quietly as a carpenter in Nazareth. Then everything seemed to fall apart. He discovered Mary was pregnant, and he knew he wasn’t the father. In his heart, he wrestled with what to do, wanting to honor both God’s law and Mary’s dignity.
Right there, God stepped into his thoughts.
Through a dream, the Lord revealed that Mary’s pregnancy was from the Holy Spirit and that the child she carried was the promised Messiah. Joseph had a choice: follow his own understanding, or trust what God was saying.
He chose obedience.
He took Mary as his wife.
He accepted the shame, the whispers, the misunderstanding.
Later, when God warned him in another dream to flee to Egypt, Joseph didn’t argue or delay—he got up and left that very night.
Joseph shows us that:
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God pays attention to our thoughts, not just our words.
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God often interrupts our plans for His higher purpose.
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True faith is shown when we obey even when it’s uncomfortable and we don’t see the whole picture
Your obedience is never just about you. Joseph’s “yes” helped protect Jesus and fulfill prophecy. In the same way, you don’t know how many lives your obedience will touch—now and in eternity.
You may not preach from a pulpit, write a book, or lead a ministry. But like Joseph, your life can preach a powerful message:
“I trusted God. I obeyed His voice. I adjusted my plans to follow His.”
Reflection
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Is there an area where God is asking you to obey, but you’ve been hesitating?
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Are you allowing fear, reputation, or comfort to speak louder than God’s Word?