The Journey of Obedience
Today, we come to a pivotal moment in the Christmas story: the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This wasn't a choice made by Mary and Joseph; it was a mandate issued by Caesar Augustus for a census, requiring everyone to return to their ancestral home.
Luke 2:4 (KJV) states: "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)."
This was not a comfortable or convenient trip. It was a long, difficult, and likely dangerous journey of about 80-90 miles, especially for Mary, who was heavily pregnant. Yet, they went. They went simply because the law required it. They went out of obedience.
But here’s the powerful insight: Their act of civil obedience became the fulfillment of divine prophecy.
Hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Micah had declared: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel..." (Micah 5:2, KJV).
If Caesar Augustus hadn't issued the census, Mary and Joseph would have remained in Nazareth, and Jesus would not have been born in the prophesied city of Bethlehem.
This teaches me an amazing lesson about God's sovereignty. God doesn't need us to have grand plans for Him to fulfill His purpose. He can use our simple acts of obedience—even obedience to civil authorities or difficult circumstances—to move us exactly where we need to be to fulfill a prophecy that was written ages ago.
Have you ever felt frustrated by the tedious, inconvenient requirements of life? The bills, the traffic, the paperwork, the small acts of duty that feel like they are just getting in the way of your real purpose?
The Christmas story reminds us that even these mundane acts of obedience can lead to the miraculous. Mary and Joseph weren't thinking, "We are fulfilling Micah 5:2!" They were likely thinking, "I can’t believe we have to travel this far while she’s this pregnant."
But in their faithful step-by-step commitment to do the next right thing (even though it was hard and inconvenient), they walked directly into God's perfect plan.
Today, let's be encouraged to lean into simple obedience. The long, frustrating journey you are on might not feel spiritual, but God is using it. When we are faithful in the small steps, we are often walking the very path that God has prepared for us to fulfill our greatest purpose. Don't despise the journey of obedience, for it leads straight to the presence of Christ.