Christmas Thought 2012

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (Luke 2:1 KJV).

'And it came to pass in those days' is an interesting way to begin the Christmas story. It almost sounds like, oh yeah and by the way, it just so happened that there was a census that was being taken at this particular time in this part of the world. Wow! What a coincidence that these events would happen causing Joseph, David's descendant, to have to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary so that Jesus could be born away from all of Mary and Joseph's families in the uncomfortable surroundings of a stable, just to fulfill Micah's prophecy. 'Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity. Micah 5:2 (HCSB)

But we know the whole story and we know that with God nothing is hap instance. Galatians 4:4-7 tell us...'But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (ESV). So, in God's perfect timing, everything fell into place to keep God's word true about everything that had been prophesied about the coming Messiah. And Paul reminds us that Jesus' mission was to redeem us and to restore us into a right relationship with Father God; a relationship of son-ship and not slavery. That is the greatest Christmas gift ever.