3 Reasons You Can Rest In God This Christmas

“At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.” Luke 2:1-5, NLT

At first glance, these verses seem like a list of coincidental facts. But there are never any coincidences in the Bible.

These five verses showed me three things about God:

God is a planner.

God is sovereign.

God is love.

1. God is a Planner

It must have been chaotic to count every person in Israel. People had to travel back to their hometowns all over the country.

Can you imagine how the Israelites must have felt? The Romans had come in, took control and were making demands. It probably seemed like the Romans were thwarting the plans of God for His people. But nothing could be further from the truth.

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2, NIV)

God was using the Romans to fulfill His plan for our coming Messiah, prophesied hundreds of years earlier.

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.” (Micah 5:2, NASB)

God has a plan for every seemingly random event because nothing in God’s economy is wasted (Romans 8:28).

“Many plans are in a person’s heart, But the advice of the Lord will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21, NASB)

2. God is Sovereign

Only the hand of God could orchestrate a census bringing the pregnant Mary all the way to Bethlehem.

“The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.” (Proverbs 21:1, NLT)

God is powerful and in control, the true King of kings. When life seems out of control, recall the truth about the Lord – He. Is. In. Control. God’s got this! As we grasp onto this truth, the fear is replaced with peace.

3. God is Love

God’s plan for His creation includes salvation through Jesus Christ. This has been the plan before the foundations of the world and prophesied as far back as Genesis, when sin marred God’s perfect creation.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NLT)

Redemption through Christ is the greatest love story ever written and it’s authored by God. Jesus’ birth set the plan for God’s redeeming love in motion.

Jesus’ death on the cross opens the door to redemption for mankind from the debt of sin. When we humbly accept this redeeming love through faith we are set free.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8, NASB)

Meditating on the depths of God’s love for me and you is disarming. He knows everything about us. Our thoughts, weaknesses and sins, yet still sent Jesus to set us free. To be fully known and not loved is our greatest fear. But, with God, we are fully known and STILL fully loved.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” (1 John 4:18, NASB)

This Christmas, rest in knowing God has a plan and the power to make a way for His plans. And His love is the motive.

Questions for Your Heart:

1. Are you comforted by the fact that our Almighty God can use every little detail – even those hard or confusing for us – to create good?
2. How does God’s sovereignty over the nativity story assure you of His control over your story?
3. When’s the last time you rested in the truth that Jesus FULLY loved you on the cross, forgiving you of all your sins?

Author: Sunshyne Gray from sunshynegray.com