Advent Daily Devotional - Day 5
Luke 2:1-5 AMP
Now in those days a decree went out from [the emperor] Caesar Augustus, that all the inhabited world (the Roman Empire) should be registered [in a census]. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to register for the census, each to his own city. So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child.
I think about the circumstances leading up to this journey to Bethlehem: ie, the fact that Mary and Joseph weren’t married and Mary was expecting a child; the implications for them as a couple; Joseph deciding to stay with Mary, (in spite of initially wanting to ‘divorce her quietly’) and the conflicting emotions Mary and Joseph must have experienced. Then amongst all of this, there was this extremely long journey, decreed by an insecure, power-crazy government. I can only imagine the anxiety both Joseph & Mary must have experienced, as she was so close to giving birth.
What really resonates with me is Joseph’s faith and obedience. He was obedient to the law of the land and obedient to God, in very challenging circumstances. Joseph could have walked away from his betrothal to Mary, or decided that it was too risky to take Mary on this journey to Bethlehem, but he trusted God. He could not have imagined the impact of his obedience. He played an instrumental part in God’s plan of salvation.
God was in control, and He orchestrated everything so perfectly, and the prophet Micah’s words were fulfilled (Micah 5:2) “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Perhaps God has been calling you to something, but you’ve been ignoring it, because the circumstances you find yourself in, or the journey that God is allowing you to travel in order to fulfil that particular call, doesn’t look as straightforward as it could be. ’I’m not good enough’, ‘I don’t have the finances’, ‘this doesn’t make any sense’, ‘life is just too complicated’…
Can I remind you, God is in control and has a plan and a future for you (Jeremiah 29:11).
God is working behind the scenes, working in more spectacular ways than we could imagine.
All He requires from us is faith and obedience.
Questions
Where are you finding it difficult to trust in God’s plan for your life? Where do you need to be obedient to God today? Where do you need that reminder that God has a plan and a purpose for you?
Romans 8:20: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Today's devotional was written by Shari Barrett.