21 Nov December 24th Daily Devotion

 GOD PROMISED A SAVIOR

A PROMISE MADE – ANOTHER PROMISE KEPT BY GOD

Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Luke 2:4-7 “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. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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.”

A very pregnant Mary and her husband Joseph, residents of Nazareth, because of a Roman census, traveled a hundred miles to Bethlehem in Judea.  This was Joseph’s ancestral home.  The rules of the census required them to go to this very small village.

More important, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem in fulfillment of the words Micah wrote more than 800 years prior. It took this great length of time for Micah’s prophecy to come to fruition. But, Luke’s words tell you that what Micah wrote happened.  God, through the fulfillment of Micah’s words, put into place the saving work of His Son Jesus.

Jesus could have been born in Nazareth.  He could have been born in Jerusalem.  He could have been born in Rome.  But, God said He would be born in Bethlehem.  And, that is where Mary gave birth to Jesus, her first-born son, wrapped Him in cloth strips and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.  The scriptures were fulfilled.  Jesus was who God promised.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem as God had said through Micah.  Jesus came to save you.  And God promises “if you believe in Him you will not perish but have everlasting life.”  God keeps His promises!

Prayer: Lord, You keep Your promises.  Thanks and praise to You for the fulfillment of Your promise that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.  Amen.

Savior of the nations, come, Virgin’s Son,

make here Your home!

Marvel now, O heav’n and earth,

That the Lord chose such a birth.

Not by human flesh and blood,

By the Spirit of our God,

Was the Word of God made flesh—

Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.

Here a maid was found with child,

Yet remained a virgin mild.

In her womb this truth was shown:

God was there upon His throne.

(LSB 332, verses 1 & 2)