When Obedience Gets Complicated

The Christmas story gives us one of the most powerful examples of a "What do we do now?" moment in all of Scripture. We often focus on Mary during this season, but let's consider Joseph's perspective for a moment.

Matthew 1:18-24 tells us that Joseph was engaged to Mary when she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. But Joseph didn't know that part yet. All he knew was that his young fiancée was pregnant, and he wasn't the father.

Put yourself in his sandals. In first-century Jewish culture, engagement wasn't just a promise—it was a legal agreement, essentially a marriage without the consummation. Mary's pregnancy would have been seen as adultery, a scandal that could destroy both their lives. According to the law, Joseph could have had her stoned to death.

This was Joseph's "Oh no" moment of epic proportions.

Scripture tells us Joseph was a righteous man who didn't want to disgrace Mary, so he planned to break the engagement quietly. But at his lowest moment, something remarkable happened—it became one of his holiest moments.

The Angel's Message
An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream with a simple but life-altering message: "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit."

Notice what Joseph didn't do. He didn't explain away the dream as bad hummus. He didn't argue with God about the impossibility of the situation. He didn't negotiate for more signs or demand ten angels with placards saying "This is really from God." He didn't ask for a detailed roadmap of what would happen next.

Instead, when Joseph woke up, he simply did what the angel commanded. He took Mary as his wife.

This demonstrates a powerful principle: You don't have to understand completely to obey immediately.

Obedience Without the Details
Consider all the details Joseph didn't know when he said yes:

He didn't know that nine months later, a census decree would force them to travel a hundred miles while Mary was in labor. He didn't know that King Herod would order the massacre of all boys under two, forcing them to flee to Egypt as refugees. He didn't know the weight of raising the Son of God or the sacrifice that would one day be required.

Joseph had virtually no information about what his obedience would cost him or where it would lead. Yet he obeyed anyway.

This is where many of us get stuck. We want to know everything before we commit to anything. We're not necessarily know-it-alls, but we want to know it all before we act. We say, "Tell me more. Give me details. Let me see if this fits into MY plan."

But here's the truth: most of us don't need to know more. We need to do more with what we already know.

When God Prompts You
At some point, God will speak to you through His Word or prompt you by His Spirit to do something without giving you all the details. What will you do?

Maybe God has been stirring within you to use your gifts to serve others. Perhaps He's prompting you to give generously to bless someone, even when finances feel tight. Maybe He's calling you to forgive someone who hurt you deeply, to confess a hidden sin, or to reach out to someone who needs encouragement.

When God prompts, we face a choice. We can make excuses: "I'm too busy." "I don't have the resources." "What if it doesn't work out?" Or we can simply obey.

Obedience is our responsibility. The outcome is God's.

We do what He leads us to do, and we trust Him with the results.

The Cost of Obedience
Let's be honest—obedience often comes with a cost. Joseph faced serious opposition. His reputation was on the line. People undoubtedly talked. The scandal followed them.
Almost every time God prompts you to obey, you'll face some form of spiritual opposition. When you step out in faith, obstacles appear. Doubts creep in. People question your decisions.

But here's an important perspective shift: Don't worry when you face opposition for your obedience to God. Worry when you don't.

Opposition is often a sign you're moving in the right direction. When you're doing something that matters for the Kingdom, spiritual resistance is inevitable.

Why It All Matters
The angel told Joseph something crucial: "You are to name him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

This is why the virgin birth matters. If Jesus had been conceived by an earthly father, He would have inherited the sinful nature passed from person to person. But because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, He was born without sin, lived without sin, and could become the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the entire world.

We all need grace. We all need forgiveness. Whatever your struggle—lust, jealousy, unfaithfulness, addiction, pride—His grace covers your sins. There is no sin too great for God's grace.

Jesus was born of a virgin so He could die for our sins and rise again, offering forgiveness and new life to all who believe.

One Moment of Obedience
You have no idea what God can do through one moment of tough obedience.
Joseph's yes in one moment changed everything. It set in motion the redemption of humanity. One man's willingness to obey without understanding the full picture became part of the greatest story ever told.

Your moment of obedience might not seem that significant. It might be something small—a conversation, a gift, a step of faith. But you cannot fathom what God might do with it.

When God prompts you today, will you obey? Will you trust Him even when you don't have all the answers? Will you say yes even when it's tough?

Life is measured in moments. Make this one count.