WEDNESDAY, December 19
Every Little Detail
As we continue to follow the story of the Nativity, consider the introduction of the actual night of Jesus’ birth: Luke 2:1-7.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Let’s take a quick look at history, and then a look at real life. Did you notice the significance of this portion of the birth narrative? On the backdrop of world history Jesus was born. The Roman emperor replaced the republic of Rome with an imperial from of Government; the empire included the entire Mediterranean world, which became the stage for the fulfillment of the promised Messiah. God used a decree of this pagan emperor to fulfill the prophecy of Micah 5:2, which foretold that the true ruler of God’s People, the Messiah, would come from Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary’s response to the decreed census placed them in Bethlehem; the very name of this little town confirmed the fulfillment of the greatest promise ever: God’s Salvation for man has come. This reminds us how anointed every little detail was in the advent of our Savior. When you sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” this Christmas season, remember that all the details of the coming of the Messiah was fulfilled as God had promised many years before.
Now, on to real life. I hope you find comfort and encouragement in the fact that God cares about all the details of your life. Personally, I find this truth vital, as I have a consistent hang up with attempting to cover every detail in life perfectly. More often than not, I simply need to trust God with the details: the details of my life, the details of the lives of my family, the details of the plans God has for me, and the details of how to overcome certain problems or challenges. I love the promise of Proverbs 16 (verse 9):
”Man may make his plans, but it is God who orders his steps.”
I am grateful for all the times that my grand plans and schemes faded in the background as God perfectly ordered my steps (all the intricate details I could not handle on my own). I am reminded of this when I read the birth narrative of Jesus and realize not one detail was overlooked, including the name of the small obscure village were Christ was born. O Little town of Bethlehem, thanks for the reminder that God has this. So, from the rich history of the nativity of our Savior, to the daily grind of real life, remember that God has the details; you can most certainly truth Him. This Christmas season, surrender to Him the details of your life, and watch as He does wonders in you.
Luke 2:1-20; Proverbs 16:9