Here’s an important lesson from the life of Joseph, husband of Mary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After they had gone, Joseph had another dream. An angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, \u201cGet up now<\/strong> 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.\u201d\u00a0So that very night<\/strong> he got up and took Jesus and his mother and made their escape to Egypt… (Matthew 2.13, 14, Passion Translation, emphasis mine)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat very night he got up…\u201d<\/em> Sometimes obedience must be instant. No time to think or plan or debate with oneself. No waiting until morning. Just do it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The shepherds came with haste<\/em>… Joseph and the family left in haste.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then Naomi said, \u201cWait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest<\/strong> until the matter is settled today.\u201d (Ruth 3.18, NIV, emphasis mine)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is what the LORD Almighty says: \u201cThese people say, \u2018The time has not yet come<\/strong> to rebuild the LORD\u2019s house.\u2019\u201d …This is what the LORD Almighty says: \u201cGive careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house<\/strong>, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,\u201d says the LORD. (Haggai 1.2, 7, 8, NIV, emphasis mine) 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, \u201cGet up now and flee to Egypt. Take Mary and the little child and stay there until I tell you to leave, for Herod intends … Continue reading Instant Obedience<\/span>
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