Join me in a devotional Study of the Birth of Christ. You can write your own devotionals by Summarizing, Reflecting and Responding to each focus verse. See the verses of study in The flipbook above – “In the Fullness of Time” and download the templates below for your written study.
Day 13
Luke 2: 1-7
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.
NIV Luke 2: 4-5
At the time when Caesar Augustus decreed a census, Mary was pregnant with the Christ child. So Joseph left Nazareth and took Mary whom He was pledged to marry and went to the place of his ancestors, Bethlehem, the birth place of King David.
God’s plans are not convenient for those whom He has called to bring about His purpose, and they are usually the circumstance that teaches to trust. Mary was about to give birth and would have to leave her family, perhaps even her midwife, and travel approximately 100 miles before she could rest. Only one thing was predictable – she would give birth to God’s Son. The exact place, and time was not given to her to know. She only knew that God would bring about the miracle of sending His Son with all provision. The kind of provision was only for God to know.
Lord, when I read in your Word concerning your promises and the people involved, I see one thing for certain, the ones whom you call are to go forth trusting you completely, knowing you will watch over them as you bring about your perfect will .
Sometimes in the course of following Jesus we leave our comfort zones, learning, His ways are not our ways, but His thoughts are far above what we can understand.
(Proverbs 3: 5-6)
Allowing God to bring about His perfect will, requires the removal of everything we cling to outside of His Word. But when we allow Him to remove the props of our dependency we get closer and closer to understanding His great love.
(John 3:16, Romans 11:33)
Cross References: Genesis 49:10, Matthew 1:16, John 7:42, Jeremiah 23:5
Key Word: house – Strong’s -3624 (oikos)
Luke records that the angel promises Mary, “The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever” (Luke 1:32-33). Οἶκος thus denotes a line of descent or national entity. Stephen’s sermon recounts Israel’s history in terms of “the house of Israel” (Acts 7:42). The vocabulary links God’s redemptive purposes with specific families and generations, affirming that divine promises run through history with fidelity. (biblehub.com)
Christmas Devotional Templates
Download this template for your study.
