In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
Prior to Mary giving birth, both Joseph and Mary were told separately that she would conceive and bear a child. Volumes of books have been written about that single important event that changed the course of history. Joseph has been analyzed, dramatized, and characterized for his role in this scandalous event. Mary of course has been nearly deified and elevated to a status she never dreamed possible. Luke 2:1-20

This is a simple story. A man and woman were obedient to God and traveled to Bethlehem to bear a son. There was little fanfare for the couple, much derision and backtalk about the scandal, and an uncertain future. But, in obedience, they went.

Men and women who are obedient to God are still changing the world. There’s little fanfare for those who take the message abroad, much derision from the naysayers in their home country (and quite possibly persecution while in country), and they don’t know how their story will end.

Well, it’s safe to say that God does.