Life is a Garden Party

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Obedience

Obedience

Not much is recorded in the Bible about Joseph,
Jesus' stepfather, other than he loved his wife
and he was quick to be obedient to his God
who spoke to him in dreams through an angel of the Lord.

Just as Mary was chosen to be Jesus' mother,
Joseph was also chosen to be his earthly father.
Was Joseph chosen because God knew he would be obedient
to follow God's instructions whenever and wherever sent.

We do know Joseph was quick to obey
as we read he got up right away
to do what the angel had said
through a dream as he slept on his bed.

Not just once but four or more times.
Joseph obeyed time-after-time.
Willingly, with a heart of faith,
in whatever challenges he faced.

We don't know if Joseph ever questioned God
perhaps thinking the request was too hard.
It seems as if Joseph had learned to trust God
and was willing to embark with a “yes, Lord” nod.

Surely it must have been difficult to move
but Joseph's willing obedience proved
that he knew God's plan was best
so he set out on each quest.

Joseph, a man of few words,
yet chosen by Holy God
perhaps for his willing obedience
in turn changing the universe's essence.

For this obedient man
played a part for all humans
passed down to countless generations
in the Christmas story rendition.

* * * * *

Have you ever felt nudged in your spirit by God
to do something contrary, a bit hard?
Was it something easy to obey?
Or did you grudgingly obey?

Will generations be affected by
whatever it is you were asked to try?
Perhaps you need to pray that your testimony will be bold
for there are millions all over the earth waiting to be told.

Your legacy that you pass down may be
obedience that others will see
that may change the course of a nation
now and through future generations.

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife...”
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took Mary home as his wife.
Matthew 1:20, 24

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.
“Get up,” he said,“Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt...”
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt....
Matthew 2:13-14

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,
“Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel...”
So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.
Matthew 2:19-21

Having been warned in a dream,
he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth.
Matthew 2:22-23

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
Luke 2:39

We will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
Psalm 78:4

Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.
Psalm 102:18

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II
go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I
go to Amazon or B&N.

Follow Life Is a Garden Party on facebook.


2 comments:

  1. I love this Judy! Some days begrudging is my middle name... it needs to not be. I pray that I am more obedient and get an attitude adjustment from God to do better. <3

    ReplyDelete
  2. I recently replaced the stove. The previously stove's burners had to be jiggled, the oven light hadn't worked in years (socket needed to be replaced), the oven had been turned on with a pair of pliers for many years, I had put hundreds into replacement parts over the years. I had spent years frustrated with it. The week before the new stove was delivered, I was finally thankful for the thousands of hours it had served me well. It was my jars (from the story in II Kings where Elijah told the woman to collect all the neighbor's empty jars). Tears of joy - and remorse - the last week I had that old faithful stove. May that realization be a turning point for me - to look for the good, the blessing, instead of concentrating on the frustration. Our faith journey is a process.

    ReplyDelete