Using The Government

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  Luke 2:1-3

One thing we do note about Mary and Joseph is their obedience to God's messengers, which is to obey the word of God. Such persons also tend to obey the government, and God used the ponderous Roman one to get His Son's parents down to Bethlehem. It is quite likely that Mary would rather have delivered at home in Nazareth with its access to familiar and familial people and places. Mary also seems to have been far along in her first pregnancy, as she delivered quite soon after arriving in Bethlehem. Why travel so close to the due date? Again the Roman bureaucracy might well have taken its sweet time getting census takers, tax collectors, and the proclamation out to the public. But you can bet there was a due date for people to be in place and Roman authority to make sure it happened. As we know, large governments tend to work in similar ways to one another - We slow, you hurry. A government at times may appear to be more problem than solution, but God can use that too.

Mercy and joy to you in Christ Jesus,

Bucky

A Mountain Toting Baby

He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:17

Echoing the final words of the Old Testament, from Malachi 4:5,6, the angel takes little John and lays a whopper of a job on him. Moses griped about his stutter, Gideon complained of smallness, and Isaiah had those unclean lips, but John the Baptist hasn't been conceived yet. What is the not-yet-a-baby to say to, oh, turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just? Those who believe in Jesus today fight to walk that path constantly as disobedience always tempts us. One way to look at prophecy is not as a whopper of a job or an impossible mountain to tote, but as a promise of the Lord of where each of us will go. John did indeed grow up to go before Jesus in the spirit and power of Elijah. The Christ Child himself would take John's job and run with it, and it continues in us today. The angel did not say that the baby with mountains to tote would have to do it alone, God went with John all the way.

The grace of God fulfills prophecy in us too!

Bucky

The Spare Part

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 1:18

In many marriage arrangements throughout history, we can safely say that the bridegroom looked with eager anticipation to participating in the small part he had to play in the 'with child' bit. For Joseph, he was just a spare part in the process as someone had already taken care of his role in that. A moral dilemma ensued for this prospective groom. If he believes Mary's tale, then he probably should not attempt to marry a woman God has already claimed for Himself. If he does not believe the tale, incredible as it is, then he must either raise the child as his own and perhaps get to participate in the next one, or walk away from the marriage and shame Mary. 

There is of course no mystery for us in this tale as the story of Mary, Gabriel the angel, and God's Spirit are told in Luke's account of the Christmas story. The dreams of Joseph reassuring him and telling him what he must do will also soon be told. Joseph will have an important part to play, beginning with getting a quite pregnant Mary to Bethlehem in time for the birth of Jesus. 

Faith and comfort to you this day in Christ!

Bucky

The First Parts

And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time." Luke 1:19-20

My sense of humor is at times rather senseless, and people have shown me that now and then. At those times, I wished after the fact to be rendered mute. Zacharias had that wish fulfilled, though he may not have been wishing for it at the time. At a minimum, he got nine months of mute silence for saying the wrong thing to the angel. Zach may have noted that bit at the end, in their own time, which could cause a person of forced quietness some concern. How long is that, Gabriel? But he could not ask that question. Fortunately for Zach, the Lord had ended His drought of the word on Israel, and big things were happening quickly. We call these marvelous smaller stories the first parts of the Christmas story.

Grace and peace to you this Christmas season,

Bucky

The Christmas Season Begins

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  Luke 1:11

At times in a story a simple report does all we need for excitement. Right there, an angel of the Lord! Zacharias is troubled in the next verse, as was Mary later on, and then the shepherds in the field were greatly afraid. The best news heard thus far in human history came and nothing but troubled thoughts and great fear from the recipients. It would seem that this news was so different from the usual that glad tidings of great joy were tough to believe. And it was! Israel had fallen from a great nation to an occupied province of the Roman Empire. The people of Israel knew centuries of a drought of the word of God. Suddenly angels were popping up all over the place. And the best news of all would soon be born in Bethlehem! 

Love and joy to you in this Christmas season,

Bucky

A Little Thankful Consideration

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

So, amongst your Black Friday choked inbox, here comes a little message of giving thanks to God. If it seems like you've been seeing BF emails for weeks, then I'm right there with you. It is interesting that Paul writes to the congregation at Colosse to give thanks in whatever they do in word or deed. Not every word of mine has been constructive to others and some have been quite mean, but I'm to give thanks for that? Thinking again, perhaps if I recall often that I will be giving thanks to God for my words, then I will take more care with those words. If that deed is not one that I would feel right in giving thanks to God, then maybe I don't need to be doin' that thing I want to do?

In remembering that we are to give thanks to God for word and deed, we may want to give a little consideration to what it is we say and do. Yes, the internet needs a big dose of that!

Thanks and glory to God our Father on this Thanksgiving weekend,

Bucky

Thanksgiving Eve 2025

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

Yesterday, I got to show off some of my weakness to a few kind folks. Strength and power are more compelling to my flesh as trophies to present to my fellow humans. As I get older though, weakness comes to the front and center more often than any strength I still possess. However, in this famous verse we read once more today, Paul makes an offer that is difficult to argue with: boasting of my infirmities, as Paul came to prefer, and gaining the power of Christ to rest on me. Does Paul mean that the One who stopped the storm with a few words, walked on water, and healed the blind would rest His power on me in my weakness? But not in my strength? It is like when the light of the Lord shines brightest in the darkness. Imagine that. Amen.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving in Christ our Lord!

Bucky