Today in God’s Word

Today in God's Word—July 2023

East Tallassee Church of Christ

July 26, Luke 2

The birth of Jesus is a celebration of the certainty of God’s word. The prophecies were fulfilled and the promises came true. He was born in Bethlehem, to a virgin, when the time came. The details such as finding the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger are “correct” because everything God had said about it in advance was “correct.”

Some of the “as it had been told” things about the birth of Jesus were just a few hours old when they were verified—the angels’ words to the shepherds, for instance. Other details had been spoken months in advance, such as Mary and Joseph being told the baby’s name would be Jesus before he was conceived in the womb. Had old Simeon been waiting for years, decades maybe, for the glimpse of the Christ he knew he would see before he died? And the promises kept when Jesus was born had been stacking up for centuries! Adam and Eve, Abraham, David and all the prophets had heard he was coming for so long. When the time was exactly right, God sent Jesus into the world, just as he said.

Of course the birth of Jesus shows us that God loves us. But it also certifies the trustworthiness of God’s word. All the other promises are just as good. He really does hear and answer prayer; he really will provide for us if we seek the kingdom first; he really is with us; he really is coming back. The reliability of any of them is our security that all of them are true.

This story also teaches us to take God’s word seriously. We need to make a deliberate commitment to obey whatever God commands, just as Mary and Joseph were careful to do all the Law required for baby Jesus. It may not have been convenient, it may not have made perfect sense, but they were devoted to doing what God’s law said to do. Their devotion to keeping God’s commands shaped the infancy and boyhood of Jesus. We don’t know all about how God chose this young woman to bear his Son and this man to be her husband, but who

could doubt their spirit of submission entered into the selection? When Suzanne and I made our wills a few years ago, we wrestled with the issue of guardianship more than any other question. Who would we trust to raise our children if we weren’t around to do it? God chose Mary and Joseph to raise his son, and I believe their careful devotion to obeying the law of the Lord was a factor in his decision.

As we look into the manger and see baby Jesus there, let’s remember God’s word is reliable and true. Let’s resolve to listen to him and do whatever he tells us to do.

From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament, Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.