Advent: Faith #Christmas #Inspirational #Advent2021

  …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.

–Luke 2:7 (NIV)

It’s the second week of Advent and the candle to be lit signifies or is a symbol for faith or Bethlehem.

Why were Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem instead of staying put in Nazareth?

 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed  – Luke 2: 2-6

Can you picture in your mind a very pregnant young woman making this 80-mile trek across a rough terrain? And if you’re a woman who’d experienced the joy and pains of pregnancy, you’re probably wincing at this – empathetically!

Was this the only reason why Joseph made this choice?

It is entirely possible that he knew of the prophecy as proclaimed in the book of Micah:

 “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.” – Micah 5:2

Isn’t it wonderful that God chooses to work through lowly and insignificant places and people?

Both Mary and Joseph were not significant in any way (they weren’t wealthy or part of the ruling class). No, they were just your normal every-day-common-people going about the business of living and working.

Mary was a teenager and Joseph was a carpenter.

Yet, God chose them to fulfill one of the greatest prophecies and promises in history!

 Six months after Elizabeth knew she was to become a mother, Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth. Nazareth was a town in the country of Galilee.  He went to a woman who had never had a man. Her name was Mary. She was promised in marriage to a man named Joseph. Joseph was of the family of David.  The angel came to her and said, “You are honored very much. You are a favored woman. The Lord is with you. You are chosen from among many women.”

 When she saw the angel, she was troubled at his words. She thought about what had been said.  The angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.  See! You are to become a mother and have a Son. You are to give Him the name Jesus.  He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the place where His early father David sat.  He will be King over the family of Jacob forever and His nation will have no end.”

 Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen? I have never had a man.”  The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you. The power of the Most High will cover you. The holy Child you give birth to will be called the Son of God.

 “See, your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is going to give birth to a child. She was not able to have children before, but now she is in her sixth month.  For God can do all things.”  Then Mary said, “I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel went away from her.

–Luke 1:26-38

 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. – Matthew 1: 18-25

Can you put yourself in their shoes and imagine what their first reaction must have been? And the kind of faith it must have taken to trust in what the angel had told them?

How they must have held onto the promise of the following passage:

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. – Proverbs 3:5,6

The same can be applied to believers in today’s world.

You may feel insignificant, but to God you are precious and He has a plan and a purpose for each one of us!

All that’s required of us is faith.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11