66-DAY JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 40 - Matthew (Joseph's Example of Obedience)
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.And he called His name Jesus. (Matthew 1:20-25)
There is so much in this passage to learn from but I would like to focus on how Joseph, being a typical man, struggled about what to do with his apparently unfaithful wife Mary. That was when an angel appeared to him and assured him not to be afraid to consummate his marriage with Mary.
Joseph’s response to the angel’s announcement was one that we all need to emulate. We read that Joseph did exactly as the angel instructed him and did not divorce Mary as he intended to do. So we see Joseph rise from being a typical man to being a faithful man because of his obedience to the Word of God. And the apostle Matthew records that Joseph did not have sexual relations with Mary until she gave birth to her firstborn son (verse 25).
I pray that you and I will follow the example of Joseph and become obedient to the Word of God, most importantly, His Word that invites all people to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
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