God's Timing at Christmas

In the Bible, Luke 2:1 says, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” (NIV) Caesar needed taxes and he wanted as much as possible. The wheels of politics were turning. Those wheels had no feeling for a young woman about to give birth to her first baby. She had to travel 70 miles in her ninth month to be enrolled properly.

Arriving in Bethlehem, the designated town of registry, the young woman and her husband found no rooms in the inns. They did however find a stable, a home for farm animals that would have to do. That night the baby came. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, was born into the world.

Galatians 4:4-7 says, “But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.” (The Message)

At just the right time, God sent his son Jesus to earth so that you could be free from sin, the breaking of God’s laws and standards. How exact was God’s timing? Micah 5:2 promised hundreds of years before, "But you, Bethlehem...out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. " (NIV) God promised that Bethlehem would be the place of Jesus birth. If Mary had gone into labor a few hours earlier, it would not have been so. If Caesar’s decree would have been a few days sooner or later, Mary would not have been in Bethlehem. God still intervenes in our time. He is working out the details for those who trust him. The global concerns and fears plod on without feeling for individuals, but in the middle of despair, God offers hope. God can work in a horrible economy, political division, fear of the future, or any other difficulty to bless you and your family this Christmas. Call out on Jesus. Trust God with your concerns. Seek God and you will find him. You will find him doing something amazing in the middle of a horrible time. When you trust him, God is always on time. You could call it, “Christmas time.”