Here’s an important lesson from the life of Joseph, husband of Mary:

After they had gone, Joseph had another dream. An angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Get up now and flee to Egypt. Take Mary and the little child and stay there until I tell you to leave, for Herod intends to search for the child to kill him.” So that very night he got up and took Jesus and his mother and made their escape to Egypt… (Matthew 2.13, 14, Passion Translation, emphasis mine)

“That very night he got up…” Sometimes obedience must be instant. No time to think or plan or debate with oneself. No waiting until morning. Just do it. 

The shepherds came with haste… Joseph and the family left in haste. 

A pastor friend used to say, “If a man says he’ll do something, he’ll do it! There’s no need to nag him every six months about it.”

My mother used to say, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” June would say I still have that problem! Instead of making a note “to get to it later,” why don’t I just do it now?

Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” (Ruth 3.18, NIV, emphasis mine)

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the LORD’s house.’” …This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD. (Haggai 1.2, 7, 8, NIV, emphasis mine)