Joseph thought he had a "big" matter to consider:  should he take Mary as his wife or divorce her, since she was pregnant and he wasn't the father?  Matthew helps us to see this was a much bigger matter!  The fulfillment of Scripture rested on Joseph's decision:  ²²All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: ²³“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!   She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,  which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:22-23 NLT

None of us have ever been in that situation, where making a seemingly crazy decision would fulfill an Old Testament prophecy, but every time we have a decision to make that means obedience or disobedience to the Lord, there's a bigger picture matter at hand, since our obedience will mean that God's will is done, and our disobedience means it won't be.  God's will being done may mean someone gets to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.  It may mean someone sees an example that will strengthen their walk with the Lord. It always means God is glorified!

So here's what happened:  ²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. ²⁵But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. Matthew 1:24-25 NLT  Obedience.  Such a simple concept, but often it means more hard choices ahead!  Joseph's decision would mean ridicule from his family, friends and acquaintances in Nazareth, because he would have been seen as the father, which meant he sinned.  Obedience seen as sin?  It happens all the time.  Those who don't know or see the big picture often accuse the obedient with sin.  At those times we must simply do the next right thing--obey and live with the consequences, which is so much better than disobeying, and living with God's consequences!   

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for letting us participate in your plans and purposes!  Fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may obey You rather than people, no matter what.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.