Luke 2:1-4 NIV
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.”
These few verses I have heard a hundred times. They just roll off the tongue. But these powerful verses are there to fulfill a prophesy given 700 years before.
This sweet couple lives in Nazareth. Mary is carrying the Messiah. Isaiah tells us that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. God had to do something to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Why not have Caesar Augustus issue a decree?
God works all things out for His good. He had this whole thing orchestrated. The fine details are carefully attended to by a master story writer.
When I was writing my book Reassigned: Evil’s Thief, I knew the beginning and the ending. But the middle I was unsure of. I just sat down each day, prayed and wrote. I would write until there was nothing else flowing. I would close my computer and walk away from the story. The next day I would do the same thing. Before I knew it I was typing the ending. I was shocked when the publisher sent me the completed book. It has 303 pages. I wrote 303 pages. Wow!
Most writers don’t write like this. They organize the characters, setting, and storyline; create an outline; and a few more things that I’m not even sure of. Then they begin to write. I have heard of many writers starting each day reworking what they wrote the day before. They spend countless hours refining and editing. Finally, the finished product is produced.
But with God, He has the whole story already written. He has worked out every single, minute detail. He had the inn completely full, just the right shepherds in the field, He even aligned the stars. The stage has been set. The arrival of His Son is about to happen.
The same can be said for us. God will work all things in our lives for His good. You are where you are today because He is orchestrating a masterpiece. He has carefully and strategically placed people, places, or things in your path to bring about His good plans. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “[He] knows the plans [He] has for you.” NIV
