My schedule has been a bit hectic over the last several days, Father. Help me to focus on what You have for me today and to get everything put together in a timely manner. Amen.

Luke 2:1-5 (<<click to read the passage)

If you are like me, this world seems to be a crazy mess! Everyone, it seems, is basically doing what they see fit to do. It appears that in every corner of the globe evil is having its day. There are pockets of righteousness sprinkled about but it sure feels like we are soundly outnumbered. We are few and the powers that be are many. Majorities seem to be driven by what they want and care nothing for anything else.

The powers of the world are well established and are truly controlling many aspects of life with an iron fist. “You don’t like it? Tough! This is what we want! This is what a majority of others want! So, deal with it! Get on board with the way things are or get off the boat!”

It’s disheartening and we feel like we have no choice but to fall in line with all the other automatons – to survive we must comply.

But as we read this passage, we see Joseph and Mary doing what is required of them, though I would imagine that Joseph would rather have chosen to stay home, especially being that Mary “was now obviously pregnant.”

They were obedient to the powers that be but if we sit back and look at the big picture, is the mighty Roman Empire and its infamous leader Augustus really in charge? They are for sure the ones giving the orders but even with all their power and military might, they are not the ones calling the shots.

Read what the prophet Micah wrote by God’s direction seven centuries – that’s seven hundred years! – before Jesus was born.

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. Micah 5:2 (NLT)

Once again, God is sovereign! A note in my Life Application Study Bible says, “Augustus’s decree went out in God’s perfect timing and according to God’s perfect plan to bring his Son into the world.”

As we see the crazy mess of a world that we live in, do not lose heart! God Almighty still sits on the throne. He alone is in charge. He alone calls the shots. By no means is His hand the hand of evil but we are allowed to have our way…to have our say. But it all is working to the end that God has ordained since before the creation of the world.

Stand strong! Stay alert! For our God’s will most assuredly will will be done!

Oct 22nd, 2019, Tues, 12:34 pm