Trust and Obey: Joseph’s Costly Choice to Follow God

Devotional

Day 1: Obeying God's call despite cost and confusion.

Joseph faced a decision that would cost him reputation, comfort, and peace of mind, yet he rose above his questions and did what the angel commanded. When obedience is costly and puzzling, act with immediate faith rather than waiting for every doubt to be resolved. Be willing to take the public, uncomfortable step God asks of you even when the path is unclear. [07:24]

Matthew 1:18-25 (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. 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. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Reflection: When God calls you to a costly and public step of obedience, what is one specific action you will take today to say “yes” without delay?

Day 2: God fulfills his promise through unexpected means.

The promise of a coming Savior arrived in a way that confounded human expectation — a virgin bearing a son — and yet this surprising work was exactly how God fulfilled prophecy. When God’s methods don’t fit your plans, allow faith to accept that God’s ways are higher and often mysterious. Trust God’s timing and means even when they seem strange to human reason. [06:47]

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Reflection: What promise of God feels unexpected in your life right now, and what one obedient step will you take this week to align yourself with that promise?

Day 3: Joseph prepared a home; Jesus prepares ours.

Joseph was actively preparing a place for Mary, building rooms and making ready to bring her into his life, and Jesus used that same imagery to tell his followers he is preparing a place for them. Living as people "engaged" to Christ means using the present time to prepare — to shape character, habits, and home for His return. Consider what practical preparations God is asking of you now and make them with faithfulness and urgency. [08:30]

John 14:2-3 (ESV)

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Reflection: What one part of your life (household, schedule, relationships, habits) is unfinished that Jesus is asking you to prepare, and what concrete habit will you begin this week to move toward readiness?

Day 4: Human hearts are deceitful; obedience requires humility.

Obedience does not come naturally because the heart is deceitfully sick and prone to justify itself; the first step toward faithful obedience is owning one’s rebellion and confessing it. Humble recognition of sin removes the pretense that would otherwise justify harsh judgment of others and stiffen the will against God. Begin with honest confession so grace can renew the heart and enable obedience. [15:20]

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Reflection: What is one truth about your heart you have been avoiding, and what single act of confession and repentance will you do this week to begin obeying God more faithfully?

Day 5: All are sinners in need of God's grace.

Acknowledging that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” opens the way for receiving forgiveness and returning to obedient living; the Lord’s Supper is a fitting moment to confess and renew that commitment. Receive God’s cleansing, and then ask for a simple, immediate instruction — one concrete obedience to follow this week — and do it without delay. Grace both forgives and empowers new obedience. [19:30]

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Reflection: Before receiving God's forgiveness, what one specific sin or omission will you confess, and what exactly will you do in the next 48 hours to obey the Holy Spirit’s leading?

Sermon Summary

We’re walking through “What Christmas Means to Me,” and today I focused on Joseph. Mary shows us that trust begins in the heart; Joseph shows us that trust needs feet—we call that obedience. Faith is a reasoning trust, and obedience is its inevitable outcome. But if we’re honest, many of us oversell our trust and underperform in our obedience. Joseph helps us face that gap.

Picture Joseph: a young man in the betrothal period, building a home onto his father’s house, mapping life with the woman he loves. Then Mary says, “I’m pregnant,” and claims this child is from the Holy Spirit. Before the angel ever appears, Joseph’s character surfaces—he’s “just,” and resolves to divorce her quietly. He refuses to shame her, even though he thinks she’s guilty. That restraint flows from a heart that owns its own rebellion. Until we admit our hearts are bent away from God, obedience will always feel optional. We need to confess not only the sins we commit, but the right we leave undone—obeying only when it’s convenient, when it costs nothing, when people are watching, or when God’s will matches ours.

Then God intervenes in a dream: “Do not fear to take Mary as your wife… name him Jesus.” To say yes, Joseph must overcome roadblocks we all know—the crowd’s opinion, the loss of comfort, the demand for control, and the chaos of noise (including the noise we’ve fed through our habits). Obedience is never easy; our flesh and our culture will argue for a different way.

Joseph chooses radical obedience. It’s painful—costly to his reputation. It’s puzzling—he’s asked to trust a miracle he can’t fully explain. It’s public—he takes Mary as his wife and embraces the scorn. And it’s pressing—there’s a window to act, and he does. Over time, God confirms his steps—Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the shepherds’ testimony, the wise men’s worship, Simeon and Anna’s blessing—but the clarity follows obedience, not the other way around.

So we come to the Table asking two things: Where have I not obeyed? And what is my next step of obedience right now? Confess, receive forgiveness, and take the step God puts before you in this window.

Key Takeaways

1. Trust without obedience is incomplete True faith moves from belief to action. It’s easy to declare trust while keeping our feet still, but obedience is trust embodied. Ask honestly: does my practice match my profession, especially when it costs me? [01:41]
2. Mercy starts by owning our sin Joseph’s quiet divorce posture shows humility: a sinner refusing to shame another sinner. Obedience grows in soil tilled by confession—naming our omissions and our convenient partial obedience. Owning total depravity doesn’t crush us; it frees us to depend on grace and deal gently with others. [15:01]
3. Expect the crowd, comfort, control, chaos The voices of others, the loss of ease, our instinct to steer, and the inner noise all resist obedience. Naming those roadblocks disarms them; surrendering control and simplifying the noise makes room for God’s commands. Don’t wait for perfect conditions—obey amid the swirl. [21:14]
4. Obedience may be costly and puzzling Sometimes saying yes means reputational loss, relational strain, or painful surrender. Often it won’t make sense in the moment; clarity comes later as God confirms what He commanded. Choose obedience first; understanding often trails faithfully behind. [29:43]
5. Act within God’s window of obedience There are moments where delayed obedience becomes compounded regret. Scripture and experience both testify that postponing yes creates detours we never needed. When God opens a window, step through it now. [35:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - Trust needs feet: obedience
[02:12] - Answering the call: Paul Revere
[06:02] - Matthew 1:18-25 read
[07:24] - Joseph’s world and betrothal
[10:17] - Mary’s news and Joseph’s dilemma
[12:19] - Quiet divorce and just mercy
[15:01] - Owning rebellion and our depravity
[20:29] - The dream: fear not, name Him Jesus
[21:14] - Four roadblocks to obedience
[24:34] - Comfort and control surrendered
[29:43] - Costly and puzzling obedience
[33:04] - Obedience is public
[35:31] - Windows of obedience: act now
[37:46] - Prayer, confession, Communion prep

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
- Matthew 1:18–25
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. 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. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Observation questions

What details in Matthew 1:18–25 show Joseph’s initial plan for Mary and what he resolves to do before the angel appears? [06:02]
How does the phrase “a just man, unwilling to put her to shame” shape a reader’s picture of Joseph’s character and his immediate response to Mary’s news? [12:19]
What exactly does the angel command Joseph to do, and what name is he told to give the child? How might those words have sounded to Joseph when he first heard them in a dream? [06:47]
What list of obstacles does Joseph face before obeying (the “roadblocks” named), and which of those obstacles seem most likely to affect people today? [21:14]

Interpretation questions (third person, objective)

How does Joseph’s admission that he is a sinner (owning his rebellion) alter the moral logic of his choice to refuse public shaming and to seek a quiet divorce instead? [13:32]
Why might obedience come before full understanding in God’s work, so that clarity often follows faithful action rather than precedes it? [30:48]
In what ways do the four roadblocks—crowd, comfort, control, and chaos—function together to deter obedience, and which one tends to be the primary blocker in individual lives? [21:14]
What is the meaning and significance of obedience being “public” in Joseph’s case, and how does public obedience test a person’s faith differently than private trust? [33:04]

Application questions (specific and personal)

Confession of omitted obedience is necessary for mercy. Where have you obeyed only when it was convenient or when others were watching, and what is one specific omission you need to confess this week? [19:04]
Total depravity was named as the reason obedience doesn’t come naturally. Which recurring inward tendency (pride, fear, secret sin, distraction) most often keeps you from obeying, and what first practical step will you take to own that tendency before God? [15:01]
The crowd’s voice can freeze a person’s obedience. Name one relationship or social circle that pressures you against a step God is calling you to, and describe a concrete way you can prepare for their response if you obey. [21:14]
Comfort and control were identified as roadblocks to obedience. What comfort would you likely have to give up, or what control would you need to release, to obey God in a pressing decision you currently face? Be specific about the comfort or control and one action you will take. [24:34]
Obedience may be costly and puzzling. Identify one costly step you think God might be asking of you (a relationship boundary, a financial sacrifice, a vocational change, etc.). What is one small, concrete move you can make this week toward that step? [29:43]
God opens windows for obedience that will not stay open forever. What decision have you delayed that feels like a current window, and what is the very next thing you will do in the next 48 hours to step through it? [35:31]
Obedience often becomes public and invites questions or scorn. Who will you tell (one person) about a next step of obedience so your action is held in community rather than kept private—and when will you tell them? [33:04]

Sermon Clips

Now, trust and obedience are two sides of the same coin. So this couple that's about to be married teaches us that for us to be happy and find contentment in Jesus is what the old song says, to trust and obey. And Mary shows us the one side, to trust. Joseph's going to show us the second side, and that is to obey and to obey God, even in the most difficult of circumstances. To obey God is to take what we know in our heart and put it into action. [00:00:43] (42 seconds) #TrustIntoAction

there's a second roadblock and the second roadblock is comfort this guy has set up his life he's building his life he's building his house and he's ready and he knows his life isn't gonna be a perfect life he knows his life isn't gonna be worry free or care free but he's kinda got it all set up and now everything is gonna change everything and he's still gonna have to obey and how many of us friends do not obey because it changes our comfort [00:24:13] (31 seconds) #OvercomeComfort

and Joseph's sitting there going if I say yes to you God that means my life's gonna become uncomfortable and I'm not sure I like that and so we are roadblocked by comfort third is control control some of us say God I'll follow you but I'm keeping my hand on the wheel and so Joseph's saying hey wait a minute if I'm gonna do this it's gonna happen on my terms but God says no Joseph that's not how it works I need you to do everything that I say [00:25:19] (29 seconds) #SurrenderControl

and so we see he gets above all of that and this really earthy and flesh and blood experience he obeys now his obedience is going to be a couple things first of all write this down he obeys when it's painful he obeys when it's painful this road will not be easy and it says that he is unwilling to put her to shame shows an amazing cost to his obedience I'll do what I'm supposed to do God but it's gonna it's gonna hurt it's gonna cost me friends some of us are gonna be asked to obey God in a very costly and painful way [00:28:10] (51 seconds) #ObeyWhenItHurts

and sometimes friends we are called to obey and God says I want you to obey into the unknown to take a step of faith to trust and obey and I will show you that your steps of obedience in that moment will make a lot of sense in the future they just won't make sense now and some of us are living there and we're afraid to take that step [00:32:03] (22 seconds) #ObeyIntoTheUnknown

now notice steps of obedience write this down are always public why because trusting is something you can do privately I can trust things and not ever tell you that I'm trusting those things but to obey I got to put feet to it and so it says he took her to be his wife I mean you can't be any more public than that [00:32:25] (20 seconds) #ObedienceIsPublic

and finally friends not only is it public but it's pressing Joseph obeyed when it was pressing there wasn't a lot of time to make this decision and he had to resolve in his heart that he was going to do it and he had to stick with it friends there's windows for obedience and what the Old Testament teaches us over and over again is God is gracious but there are windows for obedience to be done and I'll tell you this and I've learned it through the Old Testament I've learned it through my own life when I miss that window God is gracious but man I wish I would have said yes the first time [00:34:50] (40 seconds) #WindowsForObedience

It was difficult it was costly it was puzzling to him it was everything you want to name it but he did it and friends we are called to do the same trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey Mary trusted Joseph obeyed and we would be all the better to do the same [00:36:36] (25 seconds) #TrustAndObey

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

How does owning rebellion prepare us for obedience?

What roadblocks hinder obedience in Joseph's example?

Why must obedience be painful, puzzling, public, pressing?