QT 12/20/2022 Mic 5:2, Preparing for Jesus

Micah 5:2 (ESV) —

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

from ancient days.

1 Samuel 17:12 (ESV) —

12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.

 

NOTE: I like the words "whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." God has been planning Jesus entry into the world to save it from its sins from "ancient days" -- in other words, a long time. It was prophesied and it happened. But many other things are prophesied to happen and they have not happened yet. I was doing a little research today. Peter wrote,

 

2 Peter 3:8 (ESV) — 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

 

And the author of Hebrews wrote:

 

Hebrews 4:4 (ESV) — 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”

 

Biblically, Adam was created somewhere around 4000 BC. Two thousand years later, God created Abraham. Two thousand years later, Jesus lived and died. And we are now 2000 years after Jesus's death. What does that all mean? We are approximately 6000 years into human history and we know there is still another 1000 years of Jesus ruling on earth during the millennial kingdom. We could be near the end of time, and we might not be. Jesus said that no one knows the day or hour, but just as Jesus' day was planned, so Jesus' return has also been planned. And we need to do all that we can to share our faith with as many as possible. Who knows if an individual will remember our witness during the days of tribulation.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I living for myself or for the kingdom? What does my checkbook reveal?

 

PRAYER: Father, give my boldness and courage to share my faith with everyone who calls me to account for the hope I have withing me. May I do it with gentleness and reverence.