Luke 2:1-5
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Read Luke 2:1-5 as if you were reading the words for the first time.
The opening words of this passage are loaded ones. At that time…God pushed over the first domino and a series of events began to fall into place that ultimately fulfilled prophecies spoken hundreds of years earlier. At that time…an emperor made a decree and a descendant of King David returned to his ancestral town. And at that time…a very pregnant young virgin accompanied her fiancé to Bethlehem.
Take a moment to contemplate the words of the prophet Micah written over 500 years before Augustus decided to issue his decree:
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel,
whose origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf.
The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land. “ – Micah 5:2-3
Are there any circumstances or areas of your life in which you are longing for God to act? Could it be that there are things God has set in motion that you are unaware of? Sit with these questions for a moment and then discuss your thoughts and feelings openly with Jesus.
Read Luke 2:1-5 again.
Following God and staying on the path of peace doesn’t mean that we won’t have difficulties. Mary and Joseph undoubtedly had to endure the judgment of those around them when Mary’s pregnancy became obvious. And the journey to Bethlehem must have been incredibly uncomfortable for someone about to give birth. But both Mary and Joseph had the privilege to be part of a story much larger than their own. They were part of God’s redemptive plan to rescue a shattered world, and they among all people were chosen to parent the Savior.
Take a moment to think about the difficulties you are encountering currently, and then consider how God might be inviting you into a larger story of redemption and restoration for you and those around you.
Now contemplate these words of Jesus from John’s Gospel:
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33
What do you sense Jesus saying to you through the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem?
What will you do about that ?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
