Monday, December 22, 2014
Luke 2:1-7 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. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
CHRISTIANS, AWAKE! RISE TO ADORE HIS LOVE!
How excited do you get to fill out the national census questionnaire? What was going through Joseph and Mary's mind as they got up that morning to make the long journey (about 100 miles) from Nazareth to Bethlehem? How did they resist the temptation to grumble about the decree from Caesar, knowing the difficulty this trip on foot would be for a very pregnant Mary? Regardless of the challenges, they went! When they arrived and Baby Jesus was born, God's Word through Micah the prophet came true, "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."
You and I don't always realize the greater plan God has even in the little, seemingly insignificant or unimportant things we do. But may the Lord wake us up to behold, once again, the love of our God and Savior! May the Holy Spirit awaken our hearts each morning to the joy of the birth of God's Son, "from everlasting," who came to fully demonstrate just how much He loves us! From the cradle to the grave Jesus lived and died for me!
Christians, awake, salute the happy morn
Whereon the Savior of the world was born.
Rise to adore the mystery of love
Which hosts of angels chanted from above;
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God Incarnate and the Virgin's Son.
(John Byrom, 1749, The Lutheran Hymnal, 84:1)
