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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Here we have a seemingly normal order that has a massive impact on the situation. Let’s think about the situation Mary was in … she was, to the outside world, pregnant outside of marriage. Most likely because of this, she stayed with Elizabeth and Zechariah for three months. She might have been thinking she could have the baby in seclusion. But now, she must be 1) out in the open with a pregnant belly before marriage, and 2) have to travel in her third trimester when most women would be slowing down a bit. Mary had committed to be the Lord’s servant and do whatever he asked, but now the full impact of that decision was upon her. She had to be out in the open with her pregnancy, answer uncomfortable questions, deal with rejection and shunning, and still persevere. And let’s not forget she got to travel 70 miles heavy with a baby. This was a monumental event for her, an American Ninja Warrior-type challenge for Mary.

And she did this for her God and her baby who would become her Lord and Savior!
Finally, this fulfilled prophecy that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬)

So, when we read these few sentences, a lot happened within them. What setup work is God doing with me now to fulfill his grand and glorious plans? How is the struggle and challenge of life that I faithfully show up to perform or work through helping bring to pass God’s greatness?

Lord, thank you for the wonderful ways you take my seemingly meaningless daily challenges in life and build the greatness of your salvation plan!