Joseph's Choice: Embracing Obedience at Christmas

Devotional

Day 1: Obeying God Can Feel Impossible

There are moments in life when God’s call to obedience seems overwhelming, even impossible. Like Joseph, we may face rumors, fears, or deep emotions that make it hard to do what God asks of us. Yet, the feeling of impossibility is not the same as true impossibility—God’s commands are never beyond our reach with His help. When we are honest about the challenges, we can bring them to God and trust Him to provide the strength we need to obey, even when it feels like too much. [11:59]

Matthew 1:18-19 (ESV)
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”

Reflection: What is one area in your life where obedience to God feels especially difficult or even impossible right now? What fears, rumors, or emotions are making it hard, and how might you bring these honestly before God?

Day 2: Embracing Obedience Despite the Cost

Joseph chose to obey God even when it meant facing social shame, financial loss, and personal pain. His willingness to embrace obedience, regardless of the cost, shows us that true devotion to God is not just about actions but about the posture of our hearts. Godly character is revealed when we choose to do what is right, even when it is hard or misunderstood by others. Like Joseph, we are called to be “all in,” trusting that God’s way is best, even when it costs us something. [13:48]

Matthew 1:19 (ESV)
“And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”

Reflection: When have you felt the cost of obedience to God in your relationships, reputation, or comfort? What would it look like for you to be “all in” with God, even when it’s costly?

Day 3: God’s Call Is Clear—Will You Listen?

God gave Joseph a clear call through the angel’s message, and Joseph responded with trust and action. While we may not receive dreams from angels, God’s Word gives us clear guidance for how to live and what He asks of us. Sometimes we avoid God’s call by distracting ourselves or pretending not to hear, but God invites us to seek His will and embrace the unique purpose He has for each of us. The question is not whether God is calling, but whether we are listening and willing to respond. [27:41]

1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV)
“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense God’s call most clearly right now? Are you listening and willing to respond, or are you avoiding or distracting yourself from what He’s asking?

Day 4: Obedience Means Being All In—Not Halfway

Obedience to God is not something we can do halfway; we are called to be fully committed, like boarding a train with both feet. Partial obedience leads to confusion and frustration, but wholehearted obedience brings clarity and blessing. God calls us to honor Him in our character, our calling, and our conduct—living with honesty, purity, integrity, and generosity. When we are “all in,” we experience the security and joy that comes from walking in God’s ways. [23:29]

Proverbs 12:9 (ESV)
“Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.”

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are only “halfway on the train” of obedience? What step could you take this week to move toward wholehearted, all-in obedience to God?

Day 5: God Uses Imperfect People Who Choose Obedience

God’s story is full of people who failed in the past but chose to walk in obedience and were used by Him in powerful ways. Joseph’s obedience was part of God’s plan to bring salvation through Jesus, but the genealogy of Jesus includes many who had stumbled and yet were redeemed. No matter your past, God invites you to a new pattern of obedience, promising that He can use you for His purposes when your heart is right before Him. Obedience is possible, and it leads to the best places God has for you. [31:50]

Romans 8:1 (ESV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: How does knowing that God uses imperfect people encourage you to pursue obedience today, regardless of your past failures? What new step of obedience is God inviting you to take?

Sermon Summary

I opened with gratitude for everyday obedience—the drivers who stop at red lights, the pilots who follow the tower, and kids who go to bed—because a world held together by simple obedience reminds us how vital it is when God calls us to obey. In this Advent series, I looked at Joseph and how, for him, Christmas was a chance to obey. His world was rocked: a legally binding betrothal, a small town where everyone talks, the real possibility of public shame and financial loss, the ache of apparent betrayal. Sometimes obeying God feels impossible. But “feels” is not “is.” Rumors, fears, and emotions can make obedience feel out of reach, yet God often meets us right there.

Joseph embraced obedience anyway. First, he had godly character. Scripture calls him a “just” or “righteous” man—obedience wasn’t just a set of actions, it was his identity. Then he received a God-given call: an angel’s word in a dream, “Do not be afraid,” and a mission: name the child Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. That naming mattered; in Joseph’s world, naming a child was legal adoption—placing Jesus squarely in David’s royal line. Finally, Joseph moved to obedient conduct. He took Mary as his wife, restrained his own desires until the time was right, and named the child Jesus. He obeyed promptly and fully.

So what about us? The call is to embrace true obedience in every area of life—character, call, and conduct. Character: honesty, purity, integrity when no one is watching. Call: discover and accept God’s commands in Scripture; he has already spoken, and holiness is not optional. Conduct: stop gossip, pursue sexual faithfulness, practice generous giving, and take the scary step of faith with neighbors and family. Halfway obedience is like standing with one foot on the train and one on the platform—it doesn’t end well. God is not trying to ruin our lives; he’s leading us to the best place possible. Joseph shows us that when we obey, God weaves our small yes into his great salvation story. Let’s get on the obedience train, all in, and watch God do what once felt impossible.

Key Takeaways

1. Obedience can feel impossible sometimes Feelings are loud, but they aren’t lord. Rumors, fears about our future, and raw emotion can cloud what’s right, convincing us that obedience is unrealistic. Scripture reframes “impossible” when God speaks. Faith does not erase feelings; it puts them in their place under God’s word. [11:59]
2. Character precedes courageous obedience Joseph was called “just” before he was called “do not fear.” Big moments reveal what daily habits have formed. When righteousness is our normal, the extraordinary ask of God lands on soil ready to respond. Who we are in secret prepares us for what we must do in public. [13:22]
3. God’s call clarifies our fears The angel didn’t just say “don’t be afraid”; he explained why—this child is from the Holy Spirit and will save from sins. Clarity about God’s mission reorders our priorities and shrinks lesser terrors. When we grasp the gospel, we can take the costly path because we see what truly matters. [18:10]
4. Obedience must be whole-life and immediate Halfway obedience hurts us; delayed obedience is disobedience. God calls us to be holy in character, to accept his call, and to act in conduct—now, not “someday.” The “obedience train” requires both feet on board, trusting that God’s commands are for our good and his glory. [22:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:31] - Thankful for everyday obedience
[02:06] - Joseph’s Christmas: a chance to obey
[02:41] - Prayer for wisdom and courage
[04:11] - When obedience feels impossible
[05:42] - Betrothal explained; Joseph’s dilemma
[07:11] - Small-town pressure, law, and mercy
[08:27] - Rumors, fears, and raw emotions
[13:22] - Joseph’s character and God’s call
[17:20] - Angel’s message: Do not fear
[19:24] - Name Him Jesus: adoption and Davidic line
[21:15] - Joseph obeys in action
[22:41] - Embrace whole-life obedience
[31:50] - Grace in the genealogy; final call

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Matthew 1:18–25
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Observation questions

What facts about Joseph’s situation are emphasized in Matthew 1:18–19 (his betrothal, the discovery of Mary’s pregnancy, and his intention to divorce quietly)? How do those facts shape his options and risks? [06:26]
How is Joseph described in verse 19, and what specific words or actions in the passage show that his character was already forming his response? [13:22]
What two commands or assurances did the angel give Joseph (the command not to fear; the command to name the child Jesus)? What immediate legal and social consequences would naming the child bring in that culture? [17:20]

Interpretation questions (third-person, objective)

Why would Joseph’s being “a just man” make him more likely to choose mercy (rather than public shaming) when faced with Mary’s pregnancy? What does this imply about the relationship between private character and public decisions? [13:22]
How does the angel’s explanation that the child is “from the Holy Spirit” and “will save his people from their sins” reframe the risks Joseph faces? In what way does this explanation address the specific fears Joseph likely had? [18:10]
What is the theological and legal significance of Joseph naming the child Jesus (that is, legally adopting him into David’s line)? How does that act connect to the promise of a Davidic king? [19:24]
What does Joseph’s choice to “take Mary as his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth” indicate about sexual integrity and timing in his obedience? How does that shape the group’s understanding of conduct as part of obedience? [21:15]

Application questions (specific and personal)

Obedience can feel impossible because feelings are loud, but feelings are not lord. When obedience feels impossible in your life, what are two concrete practices you will use this week to put feelings under God’s word (for example: read the Bible passage that applies, pray with a friend, or name the fear to someone who will pray with you)? [11:59]
Joseph was described as “just” before he received God’s call. Which one area of character (honesty, purity, integrity, or another) is God calling you to strengthen now? What is one specific step you will take this week to grow there (e.g., remove a temptation, ask an accountability partner, practice truthful speech in a hard conversation)? [24:25]
God’s commands are already given in Scripture; discovery and acceptance of God’s call matter. What is one clear next step you will take to discover or accept God’s calling for you (for example, begin a daily habit of Scripture reading focused on vocation, meet with a mentor, or pray for clarity for 10 minutes each morning)? When will you start? [27:41]
Obedience must show up in conduct—stop gossip, pursue sexual faithfulness, practice generous giving, or take a scary step of faith with neighbors and family. Which of these areas is most urgent for you now? Name a concrete action you will take in the next seven days and one person who will help keep you accountable. [28:46]
Halfway obedience is dangerous—either be on the obedience train or get off it. Where are you currently “half on the train” (one foot on, one foot off)? What is the first tangible change you will make this week to put both feet on the train? Who will you tell about that change so you follow through? [23:29]
Naming Jesus was a legal act of adoption that brought the child into Joseph’s lineage and responsibility. Who is one person (a neighbor, younger believer, coworker) you can intentionally “adopt” into your life this season—teaching, praying for, or mentoring them—and what will you do in the next month to begin that relationship? [19:24]

Use this guide to lead honest conversation, pray for courage to obey, and pick one concrete action from the application questions to follow through on before the next meeting.

Sermon Clips

Whether it was rumors, fears, or emotions, Joseph is in a hard spot to be able to obey what God is going to call him to do.So I got a question for you.Do you have one of these things going on in your life making it hard for you to obey?In our lives, a rumor about us, people at work or somewhere, extended family saying bad things about you.That can make it so difficult to walk in obedience to God if someone's spreading a rumor about you.Think about it.You're trying to do everything right before God and people are making things up about you.That can make it pretty difficult. [00:10:25] (41 seconds) #DontLetRumorsStopYou

A lot of us read right past that because we're like, well of course his name was Jesus.He's Jesus, right?His name is Jesus.We knew he was Jesus.You're going to call him by his name.Totally makes sense.But there's a little bit more going on here.Because in ancient Jewish culture, naming a child, a father naming a child, was a legal declaration of paternity.When Joseph was to go to this child that had just been born and to intentionally name him Jesus, he's declaring, I'm the father.Maybe not biologically, but I'll be the father.I will adopt this baby boy into my family with all the legal rights as an heir of whatever inheritance I have to pass along to him. [00:19:00] (51 seconds) #DeclaredFatherhood

He adopted this baby boy that was not biologically his, that God's purposes might be fulfilled, that the genealogy at the beginning of this book of the Bible would make sense, that the lineage would go down and pass right through him from a legal standpoint.It's absolutely amazing that Joseph had the opportunity to be a part of seeing what God did and Joseph obeyed. [00:21:35] (27 seconds) #AdoptiveObedience

So maybe it's the area of purity.The Bible tells us in Ephesians that among Christians there is to be not even a hint of sexual immorality among you.So for each one of us, if you've got a hint of sexual immorality or if you've got a whole flood of sexual immorality going on in your life, God's call for you is to purge that from your life.Cancel that subscription, block the websites, delete the contact information, tell that person that, hey, we've been sleeping together and we're not married, it's done, I've got to stop because I need to be honoring God above every other pleasure that could be promised to me. [00:25:18] (41 seconds) #ChoosePurity

Now for some of us, we would love to have a dream from the angel of the Lord coming and telling us exactly what is supposed to happen when we wake up, right?Some of us were like, man, it'd be really nice.God, could you just outline it very clearly?God, maybe could you give me just like word for word, just tell me what it is that it looks like for me to obey you.Tell me how it is that I'm supposed to live.But my friends, he's given it to us.He's given us his word and so for some of us, it's a little cloudy what God wants us to do in life. [00:27:06] (31 seconds) #GodsWordGuides

And if that's you, I want to encourage you, go to God's word.Fill yourself, immerse yourself in God's word that you might discover what God's commands are for you.Some of us, though, we already know what God's commanded us to, but we don't want to think about it.So we're like, you know, I'll just kind of fill my mind with other distractions.You know, binging that show, okay, watching all the sports, keeping up on all the news, but we're distracting ourselves from what God's called us to. [00:27:37] (27 seconds) #ImmerseInTheWord

One more is taking a step of faith.Maybe God's been calling you to take a step of faith.To go next door, talk to your neighbors, talk to your families about Jesus, even though it's a pretty scary thing to put yourself out there.Well, obedience, I've heard it said, obedience is doing exactly what God says when he says it.Something I've shared with my kids before, delayed obedience is disobedience.So the question I have for you is, are you ready to get on the obedience train? [00:30:24] (32 seconds) #NoDelayObedience

You know, it's amazing that we see in Matthew, we see Mary, we see Joseph honoring God.But if you look back to Matthew chapter 1, you may be reminded that, oh yeah, Mary and Joseph, they kind of seem to have it all together.And yeah, God could use them because they didn't have anything real kind of had gone wrong in their lives.But if you go back and you look through the genealogy, you'll see people, people like Rahab, others who failed in their lives in tremendous ways, but still God used them.As their hearts were made right before him, even though they had a past of disobedience, they were able to walk in a new pattern of obedience and be used by him in amazing ways.Amen? [00:31:00] (49 seconds) #GodUsesTheBroken

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