He Was Not Disobedient to the Heavenly Vision

Read Matthew 1:18-25

      Can you imagine Joseph defending his decision to marry to well-meaning friends or family?  His betrothed was pregnant, and he knew for a fact that the baby could not be his.  But he had a dream that could only have come from God, and it communicated an implausible reality – Mary’s pregnancy was a miracle of the Holy Spirit, not evidence of unfaithfulness.  Unbelievable. 

      Except Joseph believed it.  Like the Apostle Paul, Joseph “was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19), and his obedience born of faith was the key to his walking in the “good works which God prepared” for him (Ephesians 2:10).  He did what God called him to do.  He fulfilled his purpose. 

      But the decision to obey God is often a lonely one.  Often it will not make sense to well-meaning friends and family.  It will be impossible to explain to some people.  But the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).