![[Drawing of the angel talking to Joseph]](https://www.deankwilson.com/Blog_images/angel_talks_to_Joseph.jpg)
| …an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream… |
| —Matthew 1:20 |
Doing exactly what God tells us to do takes courage, determination, and willful strength. Fortunately, the indwelling Holy Spirit enables us to walk this pathway of obedience.
A prime, but often little noted, example of the best kind of profound obedience is reported to us in Matthew 1:20-21:
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
This was startling news to be sure. Yet somehow, Joseph trusted this word from God and, in profound obedience, did exactly what God told him to do. I sometimes wonder if we give Joseph too little credit. After all, Joseph raised Jesus in his carpenter shop to be a skilled worker. There is no evidence to suggest that Joseph ever treated Jesus in any way other than as a dearly loved son.
Joseph was a man of obedience. He sets a good and godly example for all of us who live as “Christ’s-ones.” Let us live in such obedience today. Let us bend our frail, misguided human wills to God’s perfect will. In profound obedience, let us serve God today and love Him with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.
Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2015
