The Coming Messiah

It is beginning to look, and feel, a lot like Christmas. I love this time of year for so many reasons, but mainly because we take the time to really concentrate on God's love for us. I had mentioned last week about Max Lucado's book and Bible study, Because of Bethlehem. I am really enjoying going through it. At one point it mentions that Christmas started what Easter finished. I had never really thought about it in terms of simply birth and death, but that is what it is, but think about this: Christ was born to die so that we could live. In his death, we have the ability to be born again. And, because he conquered death, and rose again, death is not the end of the story, for any of us.

I have been looking back this week, on my own, to the Old Testament, back before there really was a Christmas to celebrate. I always equated those people to looking for the Messiah's first coming similar to how we look to His second coming.

One of the comments from a participant on Lucado's site was, "It isn't because of Bethlehem, Bethlehem is a dirty, awful, place. It is because of Jesus." I get what the person is getting at,(and assume they actually live around there) but I also know Max was looking at the event IN Bethlehem when he named his book. And here is the thing: Bethlehem may be a dirty, awful place, but it was told way before Christ was born that our Savior would come out of Bethlehem.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
Micah 5:2

And isn't it fitting that some still think of Bethlehem as a dirty, awful place. God sent His son for ALL of us.

I wonder what impact this prophecy had on Bethlehem. I had an instance this week where we had to correct a situation at work, these are those situations that are not my favorites but the thing is, we see potential for people to do more, and be more, not only for our agency, but for themselves. I mentioned that we knew they had the potential and that is why we bothered with the correction.

I sometimes wonder though, if you knew your town was slated to house the Savior, why you wouldn't save room "just in case". And then I realize....Because they didn't realize the Savior was going to be this little tiny baby. They didn't realize that God seen the only way to save us was by sending His son to really be one of us. We always look at Jesus and think, "He was sinless", He had to be because He was God, but by making him human flesh, he didn't "have to be", he had the ability to sin and didn't.
God works in mysterious ways, and just the time our little minds tell us that there is only one way something will work out, God shows us, He is God, and He is in control. We are to trust, and follow, and obey.

And of course, we look at our own nation today and wonder how so many people want to squeeze God out, and in effect, have no room for Jesus, just as Bethlehem did.

I am leaving you with a Casting Crown's song, "While You were Sleeping". If you don't normally listen to the song, please listen today. It is very thought provoking, hopefully something you carry with you through the week, and the season.

Have a great week, and Merry Christmas!