Advent Devotion for November 30th, the fourth day of Advent

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, into my life and into the life of Your world.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:24

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Devotional: Obedience! Do you think that everyone in both families, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances agreed with or approved of Joseph's actions? Probably not! Do you think that everyone “bought” the story of being encountered in a dream by an angel of God? Do you think that he never had any doubt that he was encountered by an angel? Do you think that he never had to deal with reservations about whether he was doing the right thing, God's will?

 

Obedience to God very seldom happens with absolute certainty. At best, it is initiated by God as a matter of Grace – unearned and unexpected. Appreciated most likely, only by the recipient of this Grace.

 

Faith, trust and obedience are called for in the midst of ambivalence, doubt and uncertainty. Not only about the order or direction given by God, but also about the consequences in the future about such obedience.

 Yet in the midst of the human situation, we are called by God to obedience. Sometimes the call comes to be involved in the familiar and the friendly situation. Other times the call is to abandon the familiar and manageable, and venture out into the unknown and daring. Sometimes the call makes good, logical sense. Other times, it calls for blind response. 

Mary was the epitome of faith. Joseph was the epitome of obedience. Could it be that God is calling you in this Advent season to obedience to God's Will for your life? It may be a major endeavor or one that may look to be rather inconsequential. What is of significance, however, is not our evaluation but that the call is from God whose love for you cannot be measured.

 

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus.