RESPONSIBLE FOR CHOICES UNDER THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD

RESPONSIBLE FOR CHOICES UNDER THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. —Luke 2:1-5

The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. —Psalm 113:4

            “In those days” is a specific period of time that a certain “Caesar Augustus” was in power and he decreed a census.  It was our Sovereign Lord that decreed this ultimately in His plans and purposes.  How many purposes was He accomplishing through this we do not know, but we do know that He was moving Joseph and Mary to where He wanted them according to His timetable.

            “In those days” was going to be the time when Mary would be expecting a child.  “In those days” was going to be the time they needed to go to Bethlehem “because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed.”   “In those days” there was no room in the Inn.  “In those days” were the days when Mary would give birth to Jesus in Bethlehem.  “In those days” were the days when the angel announced the good news to shepherds.  “In those days” were the days when the shepherds went to see the newborn Messiah.  “In those days” were the days that the shepherds bore witness to what they had been told and what they had seen. 

            Yes, “In those days” God worked through the government to put Mary and Joseph in the place He wanted them to accomplish His desires.  Don’t you think God can do that with you and me today?  Of course He can and He does.  Yet we are not without choices.  Within our Sovereign Lord’s will Caesar Augustus made decisions, Joseph and Mary made decisions, the Inn-keeper made decisions and the shepherds made decisions.  All were responsible for decision-making, but it was all under the Sovereign will of God.

            “In these days” it is the same.  God’s Sovereign will is being accomplished.  Still, we are responsible for our decisions.  One day we will give account to those decisions and be rewarded for faithfulness or experience loss of reward for unfaithfulness.

            So, “in these days” are we making faithful choices?  Are we seeking to make choices according to His will which comes from His Word or do we just tell God what we are going to do?  Hmmmmm…..

Dear Father as I walk through today and the rest of my life may I make decisions according to Your will and not mine.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  May it be so!