Friday Thought – July 1, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

The second chapter of Matthew’s Gospel records three of the dozens of Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled during His lifetime.

“Herod asked the priests and teachers of the law where the Christ was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written.’” (Matthew 2:4-5)

“Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.’” (Matthew 2:17-18)

“He went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’” (Matthew 2:23)

God carefully planned and divinely prearranged the coming of Jesus into the world. It wasn’t “plan B,” it was what He planned from the beginning of time. God knew before the world was created that man would need salvation. It wasn’t a plan hastily thrown together, but carefully prearranged and announced in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15) and through the prophets hundreds of years before His birth. Then, “When the time had fully come, God sent his Son.” (Galatians 4:4) When all was just right, the plan unfolded and Jesus came.

God loves us enough that He carefully planned how He would save us. Then, at great cost to Him, He fully carried out His plan in Jesus. That’s the miracle of Christmas! It’s worth celebrating all year round!

His, by Grace, Steve