eMeditation on the Bible

Question: What were the circumstances of where and how Jesus was born?

Story (Luke 2:1,3-7)
In those days, the Roman emperor required that a list be made of everyone in the whole Roman Empire. Everyone went to their own town to be listed. So, Joseph went from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem because his family line originated there. He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was expecting a baby. While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. She gave birth to her first baby, Jesus. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. She placed him in a feeding box for cattle because there was no guest room for them to stay.

Background
The stories of the Jesus’ birth contain many surprises and amazing events. One surprise is the circumstances of his birth. A special person destined by God for great things is expected to be born in a palace to a powerful family or in an important city to an influential, educated family with wealth and a high reputation. But no! Jesus was born in a small village of no importance to ordinary parents of normal social status. His birth was not recognized and celebrated by society.
 
General Principles
How could this happen? How could God’s agent to reveal God to humanity and fulfill God’s purposes on earth be born in such an obscure manner? What does his unexpected birth mean? It means that God’s nature and power are different from the nature of power normally found in the human family. The humble birth of Jesus teaches us that God’s power and authority are not characterized by the arrogance of manipulation, coercion and conquest. Instead, God does not use divine power and authority to: (1) benefit God at the expense of others; (2) gain greater status or more power; (3) or bring attention to God in order to impress people and obtain their cooperation or submission by overwhelming them with amazing deeds.
 
Personal Application
Likewise, God’s work in our lives often takes place in the background. God’s work on our behalf does not occur with the sound of a trumpet or an announcement that “this happened because God was taking care of you.” We usually do not notice God’s guidance, help, strength, arrangement of circumstances, and actions on our behalf until we take the time to think about the course of our lives and the way situations have worked together for our good. We are often most able to see God at work in our life when we look back on the events of our life and begin to see the pattern of God’s love over time.  
 
Respond by Growing
The nature of God’s power is a love that does not coerce or manipulate, God always respects your autonomy and the freedom of your will to receive, ignore or reject the love he has for you. To end your separation from our heavenly father and begin a relationship with him as a spiritual son or daughter requires that you make a deliberate decision to entrust your life to God by following Jesus as God’s authority over your life.
 
Responsive Prayer
Dear heavenly father, I know that you have always been in my life, showing your love to me in many different ways and inviting me to begin a relationship with you. I know that you want me to love you freely. I do love you and I want to love you more and better than I do now. Help me to grow in my love for you and others. Enable me to become the person you created me to be.