At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

Luke 2:1-5

Dear God, I read this passage and can’t help but feel relieved that there’s some failsafe in your plan to keep me from messing up your will too badly. Why? Because Augustus was sitting in Rome, thought he himself was god (at least, he made others treat him that way), and yet he was fulfilling prophecy. So did you cause him to do it or did you just know in advance that he would do it? I believe it’s the latter. But my point is, you know everything I have done and will do and yet Jesus came for me anyway.

Father, help me to live within the peace of knowing that I just need to stay in the moment, worship you in the moment, love in the moment, serve in the moment, and lead in the moment. I offer you all of that for your will’s sake and for your glory.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen