The Nativity: A Christmas Countdown Devotionalنمونہ

# Bethlehem God’s perfect plans are intricately designed like the threaded scenes on a tapestry. They are woven throughout Scripture in a way that clearly connects God’s promises to the fulfillment of those promises. Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth which was quite a ways from Bethlehem. However, the prophecies didn’t mention that the baby would be born in Nazareth. Precisely at the time when Mary was nearing the end of her pregnancy, everyone was required to return to the place of their birth so the government could get a count of the population. Joseph, originally from Bethlehem, along with Mary, had to travel on foot for at least a week back to his hometown. It was time for the baby to be born, and the Lord would soon enter the world. Because so many people were arriving in Bethlehem for the census, there were no rooms available for Mary to give birth. The couple found a private spot where animals used for food, trade, or sacrifices were kept. Then the promise was fulfilled: Israel’s ruler came from the little town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). God then sent a messenger to the shepherds in the fields nearby that they would find the Messiah lying in a manger (Luke 2:11-12). But Bethlehem has another significance besides the birthplace of both King David and King Jesus. In John 6:51, Jesus told His followers, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The word Bethlehem in Hebrew means “the house of bread.” The baby that was swaddled in a manger—a feeding trough—was, and is, the Bread of Life. [IMAGE CONTENT]