From Nazareth To Bethlehem

Happy New Year! GraceNotes Daily Devotionals 2021 is based on a reading plan that takes us through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in a year. Each day I’ll include the reading for the day at the top of the page. Reading: Genesis 3-5; Luke 2 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. (Luke 2:4-5 NLT) Centuries earlier, the prophet Micah spoke these words: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.” (Micah 5:2 NLT). Because those were God’s words, the Roman emperor Augustus ordered everyone in his vast empire to travel to their city of family origin to be counted for tax and census purposes. Because those were God’s words, Joseph had to go to Bethlehem in Judea to register for the census. Because those were God’s words, Mary traveled to Bethlehem because Mary’s baby was God’s son and God’s son had to be born in Bethlehem. When God gives his word, he does whatever it takes to make it happen. Here’s a promise from God’s word to Jeremiah: The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” (Jeremiah 1:12 NIV) When God gives his word to me, he will do whatever is required to bring it about. That may make things uncomfortable for me! The fulfillment of God’s word to me may require me to make a long journey under less than pleasant circumstances. The fulfillment of God’s word may require me to respond in obedient faith in a situation that I simply don’t understand. • Joseph’s part of the fulfillment of God’s purpose was to saddle up the donkey and to obey the messages God gave him in dreams. God’s part was everything else.
• My part of the fulfillment of God’s purpose is to respond in faith to God’s word by doing with the right attitude what is required of me. God’s part is everything else.

Prayer:

Father, Please help us with this! There are things you have spoken to us through the years about our lives that haven’t happened yet. Please be clear with us about our part of the plan, and patient with us as we try to live it out day by day. Give us sensitivity to listen, attentiveness to hear, and courage to obey. And please give us settled confidence that everything else is your part and in your hands! Amen.

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