Waite for it…

“The Road to Bethlehem” Advent devotion for December 7, 2021. Photo by Derek Liang on Unsplash

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered…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. (Luke 2:1, 3-4)

I chuckle when someone says, “Back home we always used to…” or let’s me know, “We’re going to travel this Christmas; it will be good to be home.” Many times, these are folks who have lived around here for twenty years or more. Or like me who left home when I started college, over forty years ago. Yet when someone asks, “Where are you from” I answer, “Philadelphia.” No matter now long you’ve been gone, your hometown is always your hometown.

Once the census was decreed, Joseph traveled from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, a town south of Jerusalem. That was the place he considered his hometown, tracing his ancestry back to David.

I wonder if Joseph ever went back to Bethlehem. We know that after their flight to Egypt to escape Herod’s killing of the babies in Bethlehem, he took his family back to Nazareth, far from the power center of Jerusalem. Jesus would be known as “Jesus of Nazareth,” and maybe that’s what felt like his hometown, but his official birthplace was Bethlehem.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20), to remind us that our true home is with the Lord, who we know also came from heaven. I guess you can say it’s our hometown. So when you feel like you don’t fit in or you don’t understand some of the local customs or you even get a little homesick for somewhere different, it’s because our true hometown is his kingdom.

If you’ve been away for a while, you might be surprised at how much things change when you go back to your hometown. The house you grew up in was remodeled. A shopping center replaced the park where you used to play. There many more stoplights and many more lanes of traffic. It feels familiar, but it’s different.

Will heaven feel like a trip to a far away place, or will it seem like home? That’s an interesting question. On the one hand, we’ll be far away from a world filled with sadness and suffering. But on the other hand, we’ll be with the Lord, who has been with us all along. I’m convinced it will seem different, but it will definitely feel like home!

Lord, thank you for the memories of my hometown, both here on earth and in heaven. I can’t wait for the chance to go back home. Amen.

“The Road to Bethlehem” Advent devotion for December 6, 2021. Photo by iam_os on Unsplash.

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered” (Luke 2:1).

Though Octavian, better known as Caesar Augustus, possessed power and authority as the first Roman emperor, he unknowingly served a greater purpose and a higher authority when he decreed that the world (the empire) be registered. The census would bring Joseph and his betrothed, Mary, to Bethlehem, where the birth of the Christ would fulfill the ancient prophecy of Micah (Micah 5:2).

This is not the first time in history that God used a human ruler to carry out his plans and fulfill his promises. He hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that Israel would get to see what the Almighty God could do. Both Sennacherib, king of Assyria and Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, were God’s instruments to discipline both the northern and southern kingdoms who would not stop worshiping their idols. Cyrus, king of Persia, issued the command that God’s people return home, ending their seventy year exile. Pilate, governor of Judea, had the authority to order Jesus’ crucifixion, setting into motion his innocent suffering and death and powerful resurrection.

Both Peter (1 Peter 2:13) and Paul (Romans 13:1) encouraged early Christians to submit to earthly rulers, because they received their authority from God himself. As much as some wanted Jesus to lead a rebellion, Jesus never challenged Roman authority. Both his followers and his opponents expected an uprising, but all they ever got was humility, compassion and mercy.

Whether those in office or those on the throne are godly and faithful or not, we pray for kings and all who are in high position (1 Timothy 2:2). We are confident that God can work through those who don’t even know him, like Pilate, as well as those who have a heart like his, like king David.

Caesar Augustus did so much more during his reign, expanding the empire, building a network of roads, and reigning over decades of peace. But he paves the road to Bethlehem by decreeing a census. Because of that he’s a part of the narration in our Christmas programs. He’s part of the reason we sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” He’s not a figure in our nativities, but he played a part behind the scenes. Octavian had no idea that he would be part of the greatest story ever told!

Lord, we lift up those who ruler over us, in our communities and our nation. Let our Advent and Christmas celebration be a reminder of how they are your servants, whether we admire them or not. Help us to see through them to your rule over us as King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen.

“The Road to Bethlehem” Advent devotion for December 5, 2021. Photo by Raychan on Unsplash.

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 (Luke 2:1-4).

O boy. I have a feeling a lot of people aren’t going to like this. A decree. A government mandate. You’re going to be counted, in your hometown, from the place where you find your ancestry. Any questions? Too bad. You better not have any questions. Get going.

From the time we can understand that someone is telling us what to do, we don’t want to do it. Somewhere around two years old we begin to rebel. “No.” “I’m not going to do what you tell me.” “You can’t tell me what to do.” We cross our arms, we walk off in the opposite direction, we assert our independence, and we claim the right to make our own decisions.

From the time we can understand that someone is telling us what to do, someone is telling us what to do. Sit here. Sit still. Eat your peas. Pick up your toys. Do your homework. Clean your room. Do your job. Don’t drive your car so fast. Get this vaccine. Don’t eat this food. Drink more water. Feel free to add your own instructions to this list here:

IKEA assembly pictures. Grandma’s favorite recipes. Directions for filing your taxes. When and how to take your medications. Shampoo and conditioner. Everything has instructions for us to follow!

Pharaoh said, “You’re not leaving.” On Mt. Sinai, God said, “Thou shall not…” Nebuchadnezzar said, “You’re going to Babylon.” Cyrus said, “You’re all moving to Jerusalem.” Jesus said, “If you love me, you’ll obey my commands.” It’s the story of God’s people. It’s the story of our faith.

The ruler of God’s people has to come from Bethlehem. That’s what the prophecy says (Micah 5:2). How are you going to get Mary, the mother of our Lord, from Nazareth to the city of David at just the right time, the moment when she goes into labor? The same God who commands the tides and waves of the oceans, who puts all the stars in their place in the sky, and has a handle on the weather can also work through the leaders of powerful nations. After all, all governing authorities get their governing authority from him (Romans 13).

Think about that for a moment. It wasn’t just coincidence or fate that made Augustus Caesar. It was no accident that Joseph was betrothed to Mary. David hailed from Bethlehem for a reason. God’s plan, from before the foundations of the world, included all these little details.

What’s God up to when our government, our laws and and our leaders tell us what we must do?

Thank you Lord, for the authorities who govern us and the laws that command us. Open our eyes to see your grace in those who rule over us. Amen.

“The Road to Bethlehem” Advent devotion for December 4, 2021. Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash.

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. (Ruth 1:1-4)

Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.” So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. (Ruth 4:11-13)

The road to Bethlehem should have been a road closed to Ruth. Previous experiences with Moab left a bad taste in Israel’s mouth. The king of Moab tried to hire Balaam to put a curse on Moses and the people when they were in the wilderness. Failing to do that, the people of Moab seduced Israel to worship their pagan gods. Moses was very clear in Deuteronomy that people from Moab – people like Ruth – were not welcome in Israel.

That did not deter Ruth. She was committed to going with, living with and worshiping with her mother-in-law. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was abuzz. It took a lot of courage for Ruth to go and glean grain. And by grace, it was the field of Boaz, who not only welcomed her but offered her protection.

In the end, Boaz redeems the land previously owned by Elimelech, Naomi’s late husband, marries Ruth, and she is grafted into the family tree of David, making her an ancestor of Jesus. The road to Bethlehem not only brought Ruth to a foreign land, but also to the Lord. (If you have a chance, read the whole book of Ruth. It’s only four chapters, and an amazing story of faithfulness, mercy and grace.)

I’ll bet you’ve been in Ruth’s shoes and felt like you weren’t welcome. Like when you were hired to manage a group of employees who were all passed over for the promotion. Maybe you were completely over or under dressed for an occasion. Has a mistake or failure ever cast a shadow over you that makes you feel like an outsider among members of your own family?

Jesus was so good at welcoming outsiders and misfits. Tax collectors, Roman soldiers, blind beggars, clandestine Pharisees and timid disciples. By the end of Jesus’ ministry, you wonder, “Is there anyone Jesus doesn’t love?”

Actually, when you think about it, Jesus himself is from out of town. He’s the stranger. He’s the outsider. And that means he’s one of us! How about that? His whole kingdom consists of outsiders and misfits like us.

Welcome to our world, Lord. I think you’ll fit right in. Oh, and there’s a few people I want you to meet. Amen.