Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
So much of the Christmas splendor depends on being at the right place at the right time. Mary and Joseph were in Nazareth, Galilee, as her due date approached, but the prophesied place for the Messiah's birth was in distant Bethlehem, Judea. It was not a journey they were likely to undertake in the last trimester. So the Roman emperor, even farther away, issued a decree that left them no choice. To Bethlehem they had to go! What extraordinary measures are taken to get them to the right place at the right time.
The shepherds were out in the fields at night, a time when they were not likely to leave their sheep to the clutches of nocturnal predators. But God sent an angel, yes, a host of angels, to give the good news to the shepherds and send their eager footsteps on the path to town.
The wise men were even farther away in the East. Maybe it just wasn't possible or necessary for them to come and bow before the Baby, but God let them see a special star which caused them to undertake the long journey, and they came to worship Him who was born king of the Jews.
Such extraordinary means our God employed to get these people to the town of David! He must have really wanted them there! And where were you and I? In the heart of God -- "For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son ..."
At Bethlehem in David's town As Micah did of old make known;
'Tis Jesus Christ, your Lord and King Who doth to all salvation bring.
