The Coming PromiseSample

DAY 4: The Effect of Obedience

Have you ever been driving behind someone that drove the exact speed limit? At times, maybe they even drove a little under the speed limit to be safe. Do you feel your blood pressure rising as I ask these questions? 

These people drive me NUTS! I know it's the law, and maybe I need to repent for going five miles over, but seriously, why can't they drive faster?!

I think Joseph was one of these people. Joseph obeyed the law. He was going to divorce Mary because she broke the law. She disgraced him. In his kindness, he decided he wouldn't divorce her publicly, but would quietly divorce her to eliminate disgrace on her family. 

In Matthew 1:18, it says, “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”

In the middle of Joseph's decision, Gabriel had a little chat with him.

Matthew 1:20-21 says, "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.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' (which means 'God with us'). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."

Joseph didn’t have to listen to Gabriel. He didn’t have to move forward with the marriage. Joseph's choice to follow Gabriel's instructions was huge! Why? Because disobedience would have altered history!

When God speaks to you, He's not demanding. He doesn't say, "Obey what I say or feel my wrath." He's presence us with an opportunity and asks if we want to come along and be a part of what he’s doing? Like Joseph, you have free will. Sometimes people forget that their choice to obey or not obey, not only affects them, but it affects everyone around them. 

Have you ever considered these two thoughts? 

1. What if your obedience is the breakthrough to someone else's prayer?

2. What if your disobedience is delaying the breakthrough to someone else prayer?