Morning Moments

THE GRACE OF GOD

Luke 2:1 NET Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes. 2:2 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 2:3 Everyone went to his own town to be registered. 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. 2:5 He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child.

Look at the phrase beginning with the word "from" to the word "Bethlehem." This phrase describes the journey of a pregnant woman soon to give birth to the most important child this wold would ever see. This would have been a journey of about 90 miles. This was a small Judean village about six miles southwest of This was a small Judean village about six miles southwest of Jerusalem. It was known in the OT as Ephrath (cf. Gen. 35:19), which became Bethlehem Ephrathah of Micah.

I remember when my wife was pregnant with our first child, we were living in an old farm house in the country. It was a cold and snowy day and she was soon to deliver. I was in school and she was home alone. She went out to check the mail and slipped in the snow. She was alone but managed somehow to get up and get back inside the house without harm to herself or our baby. It was the Grace of God! She could have been injured, stuck in the snow without help, hurt the baby, or a dozen other things but the grace of God kept her safe.

I think about that journey for Mary! I know for us today it would only be a couple of hors at most on back roads, but for them, then, it was an arduous journey and risky. What if she had fallen off the donkey? What is she had slipped on a rock and fallen into a ravine? Can you imagine a 90 mile walk or donkey ride? The hymn writer says, "Through many dangers, toils, and snares we have already come. Tis grace that brought us safe thus far and grace will lead us on."

As I look back over my life, I see little but the grace of God and tremble, for I know that to whom much is given, much shall be required. The grace of God has brought me through cancer twice and by His grace I am cancer free today. The grace of God has recently brought me through completed knee replacement and recovery in 27 days to the extent that I do NOT need further Physical Therapy, nor do I need to seed Yhe doctor again for 3 months. THAT is the grace of God!

Dear friend, it is my prayer that we will realize as never before in this Christmas Season that the Grace of God that carried Mary safely on her journey is the same that continues to carry us through ours today. How marvelous and matchless is His Grace!

BLESSINGS