Good morning, Lord Jesus. O come, O come, Emmanuel. Come into my heart and every moment of my day, O Lord, my God who is always with me.
"Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a Child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver the Child. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn" (Luke 1:4-7).
Joseph and Mary had to get up and go to a different place than where they had been in order to be in the right place at the right time for the purposes and plans of God for their lives. They lived in Nazareth, but their Child, the Messiah, was prophesied and destined by the Word of God to born in in Bethlehem. "But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.... He shall be great to the ends of the earth; and He shall be the One of peace" (Micah 5:2-5).
And just as it was a different place than they would have expected, it was also at a totally different time than they wanted. They planned to be married and they planned to conceive a child together and Joseph planned to impregnate Mary. But Mary was to be pregnant with her Child before the marriage and bear a child as a virgin, as prophesied and destined by the Word of God. "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look the virgin is with Child and shall bear a Son, and shall name Him Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14).
And though there were so many prophetic words and dreams, angelic visitations and supernatural encounters surrounding this historic, divine event, it was not an angel or a prophetic word that moved Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be in the right place at the right time to fulfill their destiny. Rather, it was the command of a pagan ruler by a secular governmental decree that strategically positioned them for their divine purpose. "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered" (Luke 2:1).
Though You are the God of the supernatural, Your means are often naturally supernatural -- using natural events, circumstances, and relationships to position us in the right place at the right time to fulfill Your purposes for our lives. And though You are sovereign and You see everything that will happen and You know every choice we will ever make, You also allow us the freedom to make our choices that position us for Your purposes (John 7:17; Galatians 5:13; Joshua 24:15; Deuteronomy 30:15).
Joseph had to make his choices (Matthew 1:24). Mary had to make her choices (Luke 1:38). And they had to make their choices together, which positioned them in the right place at the right time (Luke 2:5). Your hand was at work in it all; and at the same time, so was the freedom of will of the ones You had chosen to accomplish Your will.
Lord, give me grace to sense the leading of Your Spirit in line with the purposes of Your will for my life. Like Joseph and Mary, I want to be strategically positioned for Your divine purposes through me. Let me be found faithful, in the right place at the right time, secure in my identity and fulfilling my destiny. "For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Ephesians 2:10). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you seek and sense the leading of the Holy Spirit, who desires to strategically and divinely position you in the right place at the right time to fulfill God's purposes for your life. And I pray in your freedom to respond you will have the obedience, courage and peace to go where He leads you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
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My wife Nancy and I are in a season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over us and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation now for next year, or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
