FAITH CAPSULE: Celebration of His birth should also be the preparation for His coming back.

MATTHEW 1:18-24

God the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, which no man has seen or can see, is perfect beyond any man’s imagination. All that were in place at the time of Jesus’ birth speaks volume as regard to how God is interested with our being humble. The road and condition that led to the time of His birth was not flamboyant but purposeful. 
When Joseph and Mary left Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, it was to be registered with Mary. Joseph was walking in line of the prophecy of Isaiah. While Joseph and Mary were there, the time of birth came to be. At the time of the Lord’s birth, there was no room at the inn for the Lord to be delivered. At the time of His birth, people did not understand that Christ was about to be born into the world. At the time of His birth, no hospital was alerted. It is written, “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) At the time of His birth He was placed in a manger and there was no fine cloth in which to swaddle the Lord of lords. The Lord was wrapped in strips of cloth. He came at an appointed time and to an appointed location. God is perfectly perfect. The King of kings was delivered at a ground where the kings will not pass through.
It is written concerning Jesus, “…though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (Hebrews 5:8-9) Ever before His birth and at the time of His birth, engaging all kinds of suffering has been in place. Jesus’ life before He was born to the time of His persecution demonstrated to us that humility is suffering and it only makes man to be obedient. His coming is the reason for hope; His coming is the reason for joy. Jesus came despite all kinds of obstacles such as discouragement and destruction and there is no record of complaint by Joseph or Mary. The celebration of His birth should also be the preparation for His coming back. Do you have hope and joy because of the name of Jesus? Romans12-12 prescribes that we should rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and be continually steadfast in prayer.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of understanding to live for His glory.