Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 2

Highlight Verse:

‘At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Apparently, Caesar Augustus liked subjecting the Roman Empire to censuses. This was the second of three. The occupied countries like Israel had no choice but to comply.

But did you know that decreeing that census helped fulfill at least two prophecies about Jesus?

Micah prophesied that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. The census forced Mary and Joseph to be there when Jesus was born.

Hosea said the He would come from Egypt. When Herod found out that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, he ordered all the boys in Bethlehem 2 and under to be killed. Therefore, Mary and Joseph fled with Jesus to Egypt for safety.

I wonder, as a very pregnant Mary, and Joseph trekked across Israel, how much they grumbled against the Roman Empire and Caesar. They could not have known that their oppressor was unwittingly setting things up for her baby to take His place as the Savior of the world.

How many times in our lives, when things don’t go our way, are things being set up for our good and the good of others?

If we could get a glimpse of God’s perspective, I bet we would be amazed at how much of significance happens in the annoying day to day trials.

Kinda makes you wonder.

What bad things have happened in your life that turned out for good?
Are there things in your parents’ or grandparents’ lives that brought you to where you are today?
(For example, if it wasn’t for my grandfather running off to America with the 13-year-old servant girl (Grandma) a hundred years ago, none of my rather large family would be here).