Obey Even When It Doesn’t Make Sense
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of 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 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Cowboy Wisdom: Joseph was a good man facing an impossible situation. His bride-to-be was pregnant, and he knew the child wasn't his. By all rights and by every cultural expectation, he should've walked away. The law even said he could've had her stoned. But then heaven spoke, and Joseph had a choice to make.
Now here's the thing about Joseph—he kept his ears tuned to heaven. Even when obeying God's voice meant ridicule, gossip, and a lifetime of raised eyebrows, Joseph said yes. Can you imagine the conversations? "Joseph, you really believe that story?" "Joseph, everyone knows what really happened." But Joseph knew something more important than what everyone else thought: he knew what God had said.
Sometimes obedience means riding straight into criticism. Sometimes it means doing what looks foolish to everyone watching from the fence. Sometimes it means saying, "I don't understand all of this, I sure can't explain it, and I'm not even sure I'm altogether happy about it—but if it's God's will, then count me in."
That's the kind of obedience heaven honors. Not the kind that waits until everything makes sense. Not the kind that needs everyone's approval. But the kind that listens to God's voice and follows, even through the tough times ahead.
Questions for Reflection:
Is there an area where God is calling you to obey even though it doesn't make complete sense?
What cultural expectations or other people's opinions are keeping you from following God's direction?
How can you keep your ears "tuned to heaven" in the midst of noise and criticism?
Prayer Focus: Pray for the courage to obey God even when His instructions seem contrary to your natural inclinations. Ask Him to help you value His voice above the opinions of others. Thank Him that all things work together for good when you follow His purpose.
