Thursday, December 12, 2013

December 13, 2013

"When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2:13-15

I have been challenged and convicted by the obedience demonstrated by these two teenagers Who God trusted to care for His Son.


What a stark contrast to our expectations of modern teens!


Recently I have been showing how Joseph demonstrated the essence of obedience in his responses to the call of God. Joseph's example of obedience shows:


1) Obedience means surrendering your will to God


2) Obedience means surrendering your weaknesses to God


3) Obedience means surrendering your way to God


If you took those three criteria for obedience and measured them against the great heroes of the Bible such as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, St. Paul and even Jesus, you would find they would also apply.


Give it a try!


But I see three other definitive insights into obedience from the life of young Joseph. I want to share those with you over the next few posts.


First, obedience must be intentional.


Joseph was visited by an angel in during a dream. The angel gave him a clear and specific command from God. 


Once Joseph knew what God wanted him to do, he had to decide if he would do it. 


God did not design you or me or Joseph to be robots or automatons. He doesn't desire mindless conformity, He wants us to make well-reasoned willful decisions to obey Him. 


Joseph did exactly that! And he did it not only this time, but every time God spoke to him! He took Mary home to be his wife and God instructed. He gave the baby the name "Jesus" as he was told.


Obedience must be a willful decision to do what God has asked you to do!


How obedient are you?


Obedience is not an accident. Neither is disobedience!