Obedience

Consider:

First, Mary and Zechariah were shocked at the appearance of an angel of the Lord and then they engaged in a conversation based on their own understanding of the news brought to them. After they were both reassured, they continue to respond the same and this time, we can add Joseph to the response. 

An angel had visited him too, in a dream. Although his initial responses were not like Zechariah’s and Mary’s (because he was sleeping), his last response is the same. Three same responses to an angel of the Lord concerning the seemingly impossible. We must take note! 

Zechariah 

Read Luke 1:23-25. What does Zechariah do after his service is complete? Who does Elizabeth attribute for this answered prayer?

 

Read Luke 1:62-66 and verse 80. What happens?

 

Mary

Read Luke 1:38. How does Mary receive the answer the angel gives her? 

 

Joseph

Read Matthew 1:18-25. After reading the entire account, note Joseph’s response in verse 24. 

 

Explore:

Do you see the similarities in Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph’s response?  Each one chose to walk through God’s plan for them with complete obedience.

 

Zechariah 

The events promised to Zechariah opened up for him. After the initial encounter with the angel, the events confirmed Zechariah’s encounter.

 

Have you ever chosen obedience when the circumstances seemed unlikely and then experienced God opening doors for His plan to unfold for you? Note one of those times from your life:

 

Mary

Mary chooses to trust God after the angel shares how the miraculous event of the Messiah’s birth will come to fruition. Mary’s obedient response comes immediately and out of trust and confidence in God.

 

Have you ever had to step out in faith to do something big for God, even when the circumstances seemed impossible? Was your response of trust and confidence in the Lord the same or different from Mary’s in Luke 1:38?

 

Joseph

Joseph, a righteous man, found himself in a difficult place after learning of Mary’s pregnancy. He made logical, but painful plans to move forward. His difficult decisions were forced, nothing he ever imagined and certainly not because of poor decisions on his part.

 

But God’s plan was different. Joseph’s encounter with the angel in a dream convinced him of that. Even though Joseph made logical plans of his own, the angel evoked confidence and Joseph obeyed.

 

What about you? Have you ever stepped out in obedience to obey God even when you had different, logical plans? Or perhaps you’ve found yourself in a situation you never asked to enter. Ask God to make His plan clear to you and commit to obedience.

And the best part?  Joseph’s obedience gave him the honor to parent the Messiah while on earth. Obedience, when it’s most difficult, brings a rich, rich reward! Note your own testimony or thoughts about how Joseph’s obedience resonates with you.

 

Pray: 

Thank God for His perfect plan for the Christmas story, but also for His perfect plan for you today. Thank God for bringing Jesus so we could enjoy a relationship with Him! Ask God to reveal His plan for you in a tangible and convincing way. And then pray for an obedient heart.