Thought for September 19, 2024

  •  1778: Continental Congress passes first budget
  • 1863: Battle of Chickamauga
  • 1893: New Zealand is first country to allow all women to vote
  • 1934: Bruno Hauptmann arrested for Lindbergh kidnapping
  • 1960: "The Twist" hits number 1 on Billboard Hot 100
  • 1970: "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" premiers
  • Born: William Golding, Cass Eliot, Joe Morgan, Jeremy Irons, Twiggy, Trisha Yearwood, Jimmy Fallon. Emil Zatopek, Duke Snider, Al Oerter, 
  • Died: James Garfield, Orville Reddenbacher, 
Thought:
Reading Micah 5 this morning. Micah is a prophet to Judah from a little town near Gath. He lived in the days before and after the fall of Israel to the Assyrians in 722 BC. Micah 5:1-5 is often read at Christmas because it tells us where Jesus will be born 700 years before His birth. Look with me at these verses.
  • Jesus, the Lion of Judah, will be born in Bethlehem. Little, insignificant. Another shepherd king came from this area--David. And the story of Ruth and Boaz is located in Bethlehem. What does this tell me. The Lord works in His own way. He picked a family from Galilee to raise His Son. He had His Son born in an out of the way place. Many of us grew up in very humble places, small towns, ordinary families. The good news is God uses those people for His glory so that we know it is all Jesus and none of Larry.
  • This is an old plan [5:2]. This is something decided long ago. He was in the beginning and He is now to become incarnate. But this is part of God's plan for redemption from long ago.
  • Jesus is God and He goes forth for God. [5:2] and His name is Ruler, King. Jesus was on a mission from conception. Now think about that. Scripture tells us He knew us in the womb. He had a plan for us before we were born--all our days were numbered before the first one was lived. And His plan was to send us forth from God to a world that needs to know God. 
  • He will arise as the great shepherd of the flock [5:4]. But He was shepherding long before His incarnation because David said, "The Lord is my Shepherd." And all the beauty and promise of that 23rd Psalm is for us today.
  • He will be great to the ends of the earth. [5:4] Every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is the Christ to the glory of the Father. But He is great today--great in love, grace, mercy, power, compassion, patience, kindness, gentleness--just like the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep.
  • He is our peace. [5:5] The Prince of Peace which makes God the King of Peace. He brings down the enmity between us and God by His death on the cross. He restores our peace and we are no longer enemies of God, but children. He gives us His peace founded upon His promise to return and receive us to Himself. A peace that passes understanding because He is with us and will never leave us or forsake us. 
Think about it. From a no where place, from ordinary people, the King is born in Bethlehem. And He came to restore peace and give us peace. Now that is good news.
Blessings
Larry


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