SCRIPTURE: Luke (NIV) 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world…. 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son…
OBSERVATION: It was the Word of the Lord through the prophet Micah (5:2) 750 years before that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem.
Note: Mary’s pledge to marry Joseph was before the Angel’s visit which informed her of Emmanuel entering the stream of humanity through her womb. She did not know to choose a man from Bethlehem. Nor did Caesar Augustus know of Micah’s prophecy and design his edict for everyone to go register in the home of their family. As far as I know Caesar had no knowledge the coming Messiah.
Everyone was just doing what they thought best, not knowing that they were a part of the fulfillment of prophecy. God’s will was being perfectly worked out through their lives. Mary gets no credit for Jesus birth in Bethlehem. Caesar gets no credit…ONLY GOD gets the credit!!!
APPLICATION: God is faithful to keep His word. He works through natural, political, spiritual, relationships, etc. to fulfill His word. When God makes a promise to us, we need not worry if it will happen. We need not manipulate our circumstances to make it happen.
Through His promises He give us opportunity to trust Him. We do not work to make them happen, but our work is an expression of faith that they will happen. When the promises are fulfilled, ONLY HE gets the credit!
PRAYER: Lord, I trust you! So many times You have proven that You are faithful and capable of keeping your word. Holy Spirit, help me to be faithful and keep my word also. Amen
Pastor Leon
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