And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into 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 wife who was with child. (Luke 2:1-5).
Our Father who is in heaven it is good to know that our lives are planned by You and that nothing interrupts Your plans. For this we give You thanks in the precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
In order for us to really appreciate what is taking place in today’s devotional we must go to the Hebrew Bible in the book of Micah, chapter 5, and verse 2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
Here we find circumstances working together not by coincidence but by divine providence. The decree goes out from Caesar Augustus that all must be registered, and off goes Mary and Joseph to the “city of David called Bethlehem. . .” Listen to what Scripture has to say about the answer Herod received when he inquired about the place where the King was to be born: “And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, ‘ “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: . . .” ‘ ” (Matthew 2:3,4. Emphasis provided).
Throughout the life of Christ we find time and again Scripture being fulfilled as it was written by the prophet. Because of this some have wrongfully concluded that Peter had to deny Christ and Judas had to betray Him. Could God be considered just if He punished people for the sins they had to commit? A close study of Scripture reveals that the fulfillment of prophecy in the life of Christ has served the purpose of proving His divinity and His role in the plan of salvation. Consider the following prophecies:
“When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son” (Matthew 2:15, Hosea 11:1).
“But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:22,23).
It would do us much good and give us a great measure of peace if we were to consider that God has a plan for every life. For God it is this personal: “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me; Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: ‘This one was born there.’” And of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her; And the Most High Himself shall establish her.” The Lord will record, When He registers the peoples: “This one was born there.” Selah. He even has our addresses!
It would be a great blessing if we never lost sight of the fact that He declares His intentions for us as “thoughts of good and not of evil . . .” It is true that at times we wonder what is going on. If God cares that much and if His thoughts toward us are good why is so much evil happening? Do not forget that His purpose is eternal not temporal to give [us] a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11), and may take much more molding and shaping than we want to receive, but in the end will prove to be for our eternal good. The blood of the Lamb that was shed on Calvary’s cross is our life insurance – paid in full!
Think about the life of Jesus the Messiah; It was written of Him – He is “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). Yet His story ended in the greatest victory ever! He walked out of the tomb a Victor over death and the grave! Are you discouraged? Just remember that even if things do not always go the way you think they should, you can trust the plan that God has written for your life. And if you have surrendered your life to Him rest assured that it will end in victory