By F. D. Adkins
As parents, we know that, just like us when we were children, our kids always listen to everything we have to say, they always obey, and they never procrastinate homework or chores. Yeah, right. At least, it doesn’t happen that way at my house.
When I tell my kids to clean their room, they will get to it eventually. And when they do, it most likely will only meet their standard of clean, not mine. For example, I may need a helmet before opening the closet. And once I open the closet, I may find that instead of taking the time to put the clean clothes on hangers, the clothes have been randomly stuffed between the other hanging clothes.
Now, I am not a procrastinator. I actually stress if my tasks are not finished way in advance. My children are the opposite. If a teacher gives you an assignment several months in advance, my thinking is that the assignment is going to take a long time to complete. My perception of this scenario does not match that of my children. One of my children had a twelve-page essay to do for a class that was supposed to be worked on throughout the entire course. One morning, I receive a text from my child who is at school. Mom, can you help me with my essay? Come to find out, that twelve-page essay was due in two hours.
Now, let’s examine this topic from another angle. Do we always obey when we know God is calling us to do something? Do we ever procrastinate when it is weighing on our hearts to share the Gospel with someone?
As I read Matthew 1 and 2 this week, one thing stood out to me. Joseph never hesitated to obey God.
Just as we did last week with Mary, let’s consider Joseph’s situation. He is betrothed to be married to Mary, but now Mary is pregnant. Joseph does not want to humiliate or make a public example of her. So, he is contemplating how he should handle this. Then, an angel comes to him in his dream.
- “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 1:20 KJV
What did Joseph do?
- “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife.” Matthew 1:24 KJV
Then, after the wise men visited Jesus bringing Him gifts, Joseph has another dream. This time the angel tells Joseph to take Mary and Jesus and flee into Egypt because Herod is going to try to get rid of Jesus. Again, Joseph reacts without question and with no procrastination.
- “When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.” Matthew 2:14 KJV.
Finally, after Herod had died, Joseph is again visited by an angel. The angel tells Joseph that those seeking to kill Jesus are dead and that Joseph is to take Mary and Jesus and go into Israel. And, of course, Joseph obeys.
- “And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.” Matthew 2:21 KJV
Why did God choose Joseph to be the earthly father of His son? Of course, only God knows that, but these verses make it clear that Joseph followed God’s instructions. And not only did Joseph obey God’s commands, but he acted immediately when God sent instructions. Joseph did not just sit around and wait until he felt like it.
Let us aspire to be obedient and jump into action when God commands us to… just like Joseph.
“But this thing commanded I them, saying,
Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people:
and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you,
that it may be well unto you.”
Jeremiah 7:23 KJV
