THINK TOGETHER.
Have you ever been asked to obey something that you thought was wrong?
READ TOGETHER
Luke 2:1-5. 1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered…3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
Did you know that every ruler that’s ever lived, including Caesar Augustus, was put in that place by God?
Proverbs 8:15. By [God] kings reign…
Wise children listen to God, and the rules of those in authority. That’s what Joseph did. Because Joseph and Mary were descendants of King David of Bethlehem, they had to travel there for the king’s census, or count, of the people in the land. Joseph obeyed the king.
Joseph also obeyed God and stayed with Mary. He betrothed himself to her to be her husband. Betrothed means engaged. Do you know any engaged people? He protected her and the unborn Jesus. Even though he didn’t know what was going to happen day by day, he still obeyed God.
God wants us to obey those in authority because he put them there. Do they always get things right? No. But they are part of God’s plan. Joseph did what the king said to do and it was all part of God’s plan. Jesus was supposed to be born in Bethlehem, and he was. Why? Because Joseph was wise and obeyed.
Because of Jesus God has a purpose for all things, including those in authority.
With Jesus we can obey those in authority.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
List some of the people who have authority over you. Did God give them their authority? Are they easy to obey, or hard to obey?
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, help me to be wise and obey you by obeying those you have put in charge over me. Amen.
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