Advent Devotional December 24th

The Promise

Micah 5:2

We have to marvel at how God uses governmental authorities for His purpose. God does not condone their behavior, but God uses what He wants to use; he is God. God is not in heaven thinking, "wait, how do I work all of this out to fulfill the promise to get Joseph and Mary 90 miles from Galilee to Bethlehem". "Should I (God) send a vision, or should I make a donkey talk? Never mind, I'll use Caesar". God had made a promise.

Micah 5:2 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.

The point behind this is that God receives His glory even through evil rulers like Caesar. Never doubt who is in control because, at some point in history, all of our lives bring glory to God. “Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess."

If you had the opportunity to write the script of the coming of the Savior that would push back the darkness and fix the brokenness of humankind, how would you write it? You would most likely not choose Mary and Joseph, a broke carpenter and a 14-year-old peasant girl.

Yet out of this poverty. Out of those of no social position who could not even find a vacancy in the inn due to their lowly social position, if Mary and Joseph had any upward mobility, someone else would have slept in the stable.

God keeps all of His promises, even the small ones that don't seem to matter. Those kept promises move us to worship; they anchor our confidence, but only if we remind ourselves of them. We don't marvel at the promises if we don't see the need to remember them.

We’re distracted from the flimsiness of our lives, and we are living in this near-constant illusion of control. When we think that we can control everything, we don't marvel at the promises of God. Who needs them if we are our own savior? Hey, never forget we make a terrible savior!

Take a moment and pause on this Christmas eve and remind yourself of His promises. Marvel at the way God uses governments and leaders to continue His faithfulness. Meditate on those promises that He has fulfilled and those that we wait with anticipation for Him to fulfill.

He is in control; historicity lends its support to that truth that He is both sovereign and providential.

Dive in:

1. Consider the prophecy of Micah 5:2 and the fulfillment of that prophecy, then remind yourself that God always remains faithful.

2. What have you seen God do in your life recently, and what are you waiting for God to accomplish? Trust Him!