eMeditation on the Bible

Question: How did God prepare the world for Jesus?

NOTE: During the month of December, followers of Jesus remember and meditate on the birth of Jesus. This month we follow this tradition. The Bible readings will begin in Part One of the Bible (Old Testament), written hundreds of years before Jesus. These readings are from God’s messengers (called “prophets”) announcing God’s plan to the world. Prophets often spoke in poetic language than conveyed their messages in symbols and images.

According to the prophet Micah (Micah 4:2,3&7)
People from many nations will learn about God. They will say,
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain.
    Let’s go to where the Lord is present.
He will teach us how we should live.
    Then we will live the way God wants us to.
He will judge between people from many nations.
    He’ll settle problems among strong nations everywhere.
They will hammer their swords into plows.
    They’ll hammer their spears into pruning tools.
Nations will not go to war against one another.
    They won’t even train to fight anymore.
    He will be our God for ever and ever.
God declares: “I will be their King from that time on and forever.”

General Principles
Before Jesus was born, the prophets gave the human family God’s great promise to send a person to end the separation between God and humanity. The fulfillment of this promise began with the coming of Jesus, who brought the kingdom of God (the rule of God in human hearts) to earth. As portrayed by the prophet Micah, God’s presence on earth within this Special Person was going to teach humanity how to honor and please God in a manner that enables humans to live in harmony with God and each other as well as enjoy the fullness of God’s blessings forever.  

Personal Application
Our efforts to reduce suffering and injustice in our world will not be futile because through Jesus God is bringing the fullness of harmonious well-being to the whole world.

Respond by Growing
You can live in the hope of God’s promise that the future God has planned for us has been revealed by the life and teachings of Jesus. As we follow Jesus as God’s authority over our lives, God is in the process of, step-by-step, establishing the kingdom of God on earth.

Responsive Prayer
Dear heavenly father, I place my hope for the future of my nation and the whole world in your love for us. Thank you for not abandoning us but promising us that you will make everything right through your kingdom, which began with Jesus.