Joy to the World - Pt 6

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And 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, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1–5 ESV).

Today is special in another way as we continue to look at the birth of our Savior. It is my second granddaughter’s 4th birthday! Happy Birthday, Maggie! She is quite the personality, independent, smart, and strong. She is a constant reminder of the amazing gift of life God has secured for us through His grace. It is always amazing how God ordains things on our behalf, bringing good to us in so many ways. With Jesus’ birth God ordained beforehand that he be born in Bethlehem (cf. Micah 5); and, he so ordained things that when the time came, the Messiah’s mother and legal father were living in Nazareth; and that in order to fulfill his word and bring two little people to Bethlehem that first Christmas, God put it in the heart of Caesar Augustus that all the Roman world should be enrolled each in his own town. That often reminds me of how little and insignificant in a world of seven billion people, where all the news is of big political and economic and social movements and of outstanding people with lots of power and prestige I really am. Perhaps you feel that way as well. If you have, don’t let that make you disheartened or unhappy. For it is implicit in Scripture that all the mammoth political forces and all the giant industrial complexes, without their even knowing it, are being guided by God, not for their own sake but for the sake of God’s people. I find it comforting that both Mary and Joseph, who have to be got from Nazareth to Bethlehem, experience the hand of God working to this end. God wields an empire to bless his children. Do not think, because you experience adversity, that the hand of the Lord is shortened. It is not our prosperity but our holiness that he seeks with all his heart. And to that end, he rules the whole world. As Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” He is a big God for a little people, and we have great cause to rejoice. Whatever seems to be so out of control is actually perfectly moving according to God’s will to bring about his final redemptive work! Happy Birthday, Maggie! And, thanks for helping me remember how great a God we have!