My list isn't a "naughty or nice" list. Mine is the "Things To Do" to be ready for Christmas and family and events happening this week and next. And I will tell you I already have 4 lists written since this morning. Some are pretty lengthy. They will also be checked many more times than twice. Can anyone relate?
Mine are not this advanced. They are on lined notebook paper torn out of a spiral binder.
My lists have lists...I wonder if God has lists. I think in a way He does. His word talks about things that happen in the "fullness of time". Seems to me that means certain things have to happen or be finished first before the time is full. You know, those prophetic words telling a Savior would be coming and what to be looking for, for example.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah
Though you are little among the thousand of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.
Micah 5:2
There are well over 50 scriptures telling of Jesus' first coming, some of those speaking of Him being born of a virgin and, as the above states, in Bethlehem. And why He was coming.
He certainly came in a dark time, to a dark place, to be the light of the world. A harsh, jealous, perverse king was in rule commanding people to return at their own inconvenience to the place of their family origin so he could better tax them for his own gain. Ordering the slaughter of all male babies age 2 and under. Can you imagine the terror of the time? Yes a crazy time, under a crazy king.
People were looking and longing for the Savior to come well before God sent forth His son. WE have our time table and God has HIS prophetic time table. Why would it be wrong for Jesus to come before He did? I don't know. But I do know if I do not cook the roast for Italian Beef long enough, it is not going to be fall apart tender. If I do not add the right spices at the right time, it just doesn't taste as good either. It needs the fullness of time.
Many cry out against God for things that are mans own inhumanity to man. Or even satan's orchestrating his steal, kill and destroy strategies and whispering lies about it being God we should blame. People prone to leaning to their own understanding, tend to believe these lies and then speak them loudly against the One who IS LOVE and loves so much He GAVE His own perfect son into the dark world to become it's Savior. If anything, we live in a day when it should be pretty apparent we need the Savior.
God has given the world into the hands of people. People who have opportunity to choose what to do with the gifts He has given us collectively and individually. He does not leave us as orphans however. As He says...He sends His Spirit to live in us to comfort, teach us truth, empower us, to live through us if we will receive Him.
In the fullness of time Jesus Himself will be returning and not as a baby. The cup is looking pretty full to me, but then God knows the fullness of time. Until then let's live ready. Let's live understanding why the baby was born in a manger that Christmas night. Why it was declared by angels, shepherds, wise men, prophets to be a birth like no other...Let's each choose Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Men to be on our to do list for every day.
Love each other!
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