Daily Devotional
By Pastor Jerry Teboe
MIRACLES IN 2025
Advent Series- 9
Hidden in Plain Sight
Matthew 2:5-6
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
The importance of Bethlehem is sometimes misunderstood, but today we will see why that small village in the time of Jesus Christ was so important.
Joseph and Mary lived in the little town of Nazareth in the northern province of Galilee. It was there they were engaged and where Mary saw the vision of the angel Gabriel when he announced to her that she would become the mother of the Christ Child. It was there also that Joseph had his vision which gave him peace about taking Mary for his wife when she was already pregnant. Then how did they wind up in a city nearly 80 miles to the south, especially when Mary was nine months pregnant and ready to give birth?
The answer is seen in the book of Luke. The Emperor Augustus was the ruler of all Rome, and as a means of keeping records on those who would pay taxes in his empire, he required all men to return to their birth city to be registered. The registration was ordered, so Joseph had to return to Bethlehem because that was where he was born. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2.
Since Mary too was a descendant of David, she also had to return and be registered with her husband. In God’s timing, it was there Christ was born. The fact that Jesus was born in Bethlehem was not well known at that time since Joseph and Mary returned to Nazareth, and Jesus grew up there. Many people doubted that Jesus was the Messiah because they knew the Messiah would have to be born in Bethlehem. As a result, Christ the Redeemer was hidden in plain sight from the understanding of the majority of Israel. Praise the Lord that God always puts everything in the right place at the right time!
Bible Reading for the Year
December 9th, 2 Timothy 1-4
Prayer Needs
Please continue to pray for Beth Buchta. She had a hip replacement, on November 25th. She saw her orthopedic doctor yesterday, and he explained she really had a hip revision which is more serious and will take more rest and recuperation time.
Please pray for Frances and Edward Lee who are both sick with upper respiratory infections. Edward is better, but Frances is still not well.
Please pray for John Head who has the flu.
Please continue to pray for Jennifer Teboe Buchamer. Today she will complete the 7th of the 28 radiation treatments.
Please continue to pray for Linda Franks. The doctor had to prescribe new medication that is helping her. She sees the surgeon on December 16th.
Please pray for Lee Roy Elks, Jackie Whitehurst’s brother-in-law. He is home now, but under hospice care.
Please pray for Jackson Broome as he goes to Duke to discuss a new treatment plan.
Praise the Lord for Anderson and Meredith Womble, friends of Donna Dixion. The doctor said the fluid is gone from the baby’s heart. They will check the baby again as soon as the birth takes place. This is a great answer to prayer. Thank you for praying!!!
Please pray for Marvin Silverthorne. He will see his eye doctor on January 20th.
Please continue to pray for Phil Corey. Pray for his continual dialysis treatments.
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Pray for our Missionaries!
Sue Singleton and the mission in Cambodia
Dr. Joe Jordan and the CBM (Cross and Bible Ministries)
Travis and Caroline Fennessy – IBM missionaries to Southeast Asia