The Faith of an Ordinary Man | Matthew 1:18-25

Are you willing to obey God?

Author

Caleb Lee
January 02, 2024

Following God isn’t easy.

Just ask Joseph.

18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ[e] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed[f] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19  And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20  But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
 and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24  When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25  but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-25 (ESV)

Imagine the situation for a moment: You’re betrothed (engaged) to a woman who is found to be with a child, and it’s not yours.

Imagine the shock, the emotion, the questions. Yet even in that circumstance, Joseph decides to try and end things quietly.

Remember that in their day and age, Joseph could have had Mary stoned for this.

Then on top of all the confusing thoughts swirling around in his head, an angel comes to Joseph in a dream and assures him that Mary is pregnant from the Holy Spirit and Joseph is to name him Jesus.

But what’s crazy to me is verse 24: “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife”

He obeyed the very next day! And kept obeying for the next 9 months of Mary’s pregnancy until Jesus was born.

Joseph’s obedience reminds me of 2 things:

  1. Obeying God won’t always be easy. Sometimes God’s commands seem counterintuitive. Sometimes they seem impossible to obey. But if you obey anyway…

  2. God will do incredible things through that obedience.

Is God calling you to specific obedience this new year?

And more importantly, are you willing to obey Him?

Have a blessed January 2nd!

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