December 23
Scripture of the day: "Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child." Luke 2:1-5
Thought of the day: The birth of Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies such as: "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." Micah 5:2. God caused Caesar Augustus, the leader of the Roman Empire, to order a census. He was a nonbeliever living in Rome ... 1400 miles (2,300 km) from Nazareth where Mary and Joseph lived. Joseph, being a descendant of David, had to travel 70 miles (110 km) to Bethlehem to register. Mary was not required by Roman law to go with him. But she did go even though she was near the end of her pregnancy and traveling would be difficult. All of this happened to cause Micah's 700 year-old prophecy to be fulfilled.
Challenge of the day: All Old Testament prophecies (more than 300 of them) about Jesus were perfectly fulfilled in His birth, life, death, and resurrection. Those prophecies could not be fulfilled coincidentally by chance in one man's life. Their total fulfillment proves that Jesus is the Messiah. Rejoice this Christmas that your faith is based on conclusive evidence!
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