Advent Devotions

Joseph’s Obedient Love

Matthew 1:18–25

“Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly... But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…”

Joseph often stands quietly in the background of the nativity story, yet his love and obedience speak volumes. Faced with what must have felt like betrayal and public shame, he chose compassion over condemnation. And when God redirected him through a dream, Joseph didn’t argue—he trusted, and he acted.

His love for Mary wasn’t loud, but it was faithful. It was the kind of love that costs—his reputation, his plans, his comfort. But Joseph stayed the course, because he believed God was at work in ways he could not fully understand.

Real love is like that. It doesn't always come with fanfare. Sometimes it looks like making the harder choice, standing by someone when others walk away, or trusting God’s whisper over the noise of the world. Joseph’s obedient love made space for the Messiah to enter the world.

Think of a supporting beam in a house—often hidden behind walls, never seen, never praised. But without it, the structure wouldn’t stand. Joseph was like that beam: quiet, strong, obedient. His love gave stability to Mary and protection to Jesus, even though his role was mostly behind the scenes.

In a world obsessed with recognition, Joseph reminds us that true love is often expressed in silent sacrifice and steadfast trust.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to love with the quiet courage of Joseph. Teach me to trust when the way forward is unclear, and to act with compassion even when it costs. May my obedience open the way for your presence in the lives of others. Amen.