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This series of devotionals brings us through the book of Matthew in order. Each devotional focuses on a passage in the book, with a Scripture Highlight that you can commit to memory. We hope these devotionals serve to edify and encourage you, leading you to love and enjoy God’s Word more and more!
JOSEPH’S TRUST AND OBEDIENCE Young Joseph had probably been looking forward to his wedding day, when he could finally marry Mary and build a godly family together with her. How confused, sad and shocked Joseph must have been when he found Mary, whom he loved, with a child! Could it be that she had an affair with another man? Was she not as pure and godly as he thought her to be all this time? According to the law, the woman, if found to be in adultery, may face the punishment of being stoned to death in public. In those days, a betrothal is considered a legal engagement, and would last for about a year before marriage, even though the marriage has not been consummated. As Mary appeared to have conceived a child in adultery, she would possibly face death by stoning according to the law if Joseph had brought her out in public (Deuteronomy 22:13-21). Joseph is a righteous man, and is well aware of the OT laws regarding sexual immorality. He would have struggled to make a decision as he sought to obey God through His law. Joseph eventually resolved to divorce Mary, but he remained compassionate towards her, “unwilling to put her to shame” – the divorce would be done quietly (v19). What Joseph did not know was that the child whom Mary was carrying was supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit in her womb (v18). Before he could actually carry out his decision to divorce Mary, God sent an angel to reveal to him in a dream to take Mary as his wife. The angel also sent word from God that the baby she was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was to name the baby boy Jesus, as he was the one the prophets have spoken about (v20-23). Joseph woke up from his sleep and simply trusted and obeyed the angel’s commands without any doubt (v24-25). God used Joseph’s obedience to fulfill what He has spoken through the prophets of old. Jesus was now the legally adopted son of Joseph in the line of David, but not begotten of Joseph in the flesh. The birth of Jesus to the adoptive father Joseph and the virgin mother Mary validates both his legal right and supernatural heredity as heir to David’s throne. It might have seemed easy for Joseph to simply obey God’s word conveyed to him through his dream. In fact, however, Joseph had to suspend his belief in what he thought he knew about Mary’s pregnancy. He only had the word of God to go by, which called him to completely overturn his original decision to ‘divorce her quietly’ and instead, ‘take Mary as [his] wife’. Joseph could have only been able to obey these seemingly radical commands by faith. Joseph was firmly persuaded that God is indeed with His people to save, and did not fear what people might think or say. OBEDIENCE: A FRUIT OF FAITH How can we learn from Joseph’s example of faith and obedience? Obedience is not merely following rules, or an external conformity of behavior (think of the Pharisees whom Jesus rebuked). A heart of disobedience does not trust God and refuses to submit to Him. It is like a child who hates his father – he either willfully ignores his father’s words, or worse, deliberately acts in rebellion by doing the exact opposite just to make him angry. King Ahaz (v9) was an example of a wicked king who willfully disobeyed God. Isaiah the prophet had brought news to Ahaz that God would deliver His people, but Ahaz refused to listen. He did not believe nor trust that the Lord would deliver him. Instead of seeking the Lord’s help in the face of threats from foreign nations, he turned away and sought the help of the Assyrian king (Isaiah 7). On the contrary, a child who truly loves and trusts his father will not repeatedly do something knowing that it makes his father angry, but will gladly do whatever pleases his father out of pure affection. In the same way, a maturing believer with a conscience transformed by the Holy Spirit knows that his sins are an assault to God’s holiness. As a result, he will do all he can to obey God, resolving to fight his sinful ways and turn from the evil desires which he used to live by. He does so because he desires to worship and obey God more than he loves the deceitful pleasures of sin (1 Peter 1:14-16). A life of obedience to God’s commands is the fruit of genuine faith. “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” A truly regenerate person is continually transformed by the Holy Spirit, and perseveres in obedience to the commandments revealed by God through His Word (John 3:16, Hebrews 8:10-12). Jesus himself said that if his disciples love him, they will obey his commandments (John 14:15). No one who has genuine faith in Christ will keep on sinning (1 John 3:9; Hebrews 10:26). “And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?” Jesus does not merely tell us to be obedient; He himself was a perfect example and demonstration of what obedience is. Jesus fulfills all of God’s laws with every inch of his being – his earthly ministry culminated in his obedience to the point of death on the cross. He had ‘come down from heaven...to do the will of Him who sent [him]’ (John 6:38-40). Through Jesus Christ’s perfect obedience, the Son of God himself entered human history and became the Son of David. God’s presence is now made flesh among His people to purify and save them from their sins. By the sheer grace of God, Jesus bore the fearful wrath of God on our behalf. We have been redeemed from our sins through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, once and for all (Hebrews 10:12). Jesus is completely worthy of our worship; there is no other like Him who can redeem us from sin through perfect obedience to God. “For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” It is only because we have been saved from our sins by the blood of Christ and ‘made righteous’ (Romans 5:19), that we can be reconciled to God and enjoy a true, loving relationship with Him. And who are the ones who enjoy such a relationship with God, who abide in God and God in them? 1 John 3:24 tells us that it is ‘whoever keeps His commandments’! Do we submit to the authority of God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)? Do we continue in Christian fellowship (1 John 2:19)? Do we give to a brother or sister in need (1 John 3:17)? Do we truly love one another, to even lay down our lives for each other (1 John 3:14, 16)? Do we correct disobedience amongst ourselves in church by demolishing wrong thinking and subjecting our thoughts to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)? These are but some areas according to God’s revealed will which we can examine ourselves to see if we are indeed bearing fruit in our faith. God’s purposes were fulfilled through the perfect obedience of His Son Jesus, and the obedience of His people – Joseph and Mary! The obedience of God’s people by faith in this present age will continue to glorify Him and fulfill His purposes, until Christ returns again. Until then, let us persevere in His commandments. May the Lord strengthen our faith in Him – that we may increasingly bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8), and worship him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” With richest blessings from the Lord our God, The B-read Team  Comments are closed.
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