Luke 2: 4-7

Good morning!

Luke 2: 4-7: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.


God's plans and His ways and His thoughts and His actions are always good and perfect, even if they don't make sense to us! I imagine Mary was pretty troubled to know that while she was about to pop, they had to journey to Bethlehem to take part in a census. Riding on a donkey is not how I want to be spending the last days of my pregnancy! There was no birth plan, there was no hospital. There was no hotel with comfy rooms for them to stay in. Mary had no insurance to pay for an epideral! It was her and Joseph together, a team trusting in God that He knew what He was doing. God brought them to exactly where He wanted them. Prophecy was being fulfilled. God brought those two together to accomplish His will. Everything came together so perfectly, yet while it was all happening, it seemed so unsettling and unknown. There was no colorful fanfare, no party, no triumphant entry. Jesus was not born in a palace, wrapped in the finest of linens and taken care of by His own staff of servants. There was no paparazzi...He didn't make the front page of the news...He was not the talk of the town. God brought the greatest miracle of all out of the lowliest of circumstances. A few select were told and were allowed to witness Jesus' first night of His life.

The greatest thing I have learned from reading about Mary and Joseph is that they went with the flow. They trusted the will of God and believed they were being used for a purpose. They were the perfect example of servants. As Mary held her first born son for the first time, I imagine she also knew she was staring at her Savior. Even though there was no room for them in the inn and they were stuck outside in a stable where they animals were kept, she was full of love and peace! She wrapped her baby up and placed him in a manager. The star was shining bright. They were coming to worship Him. It was beginning! Stay tuned...

Isaiah 9:6-7: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.