Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week                                                                        

Christmas – God’s Promise fulfilled!

Micah 5v2-4 “But you Bethlehem … out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times … she who is in labour bears a son … He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD … his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.”

I find it faith-building to read prophecies we know were written so long before Christ and which were so clearly fulfilled – despite the in probabilities! Let’s just consider the elements of this prophecy from Micah around 700BC and their fulfilment around 6BC:

-Out of Bethlehem will come a ruler – God arranged for Caesar to call a census around 6BC so that Mary would journey to Bethlehem and have her baby while there.

–              This child’s birth would not be their beginning – God sent his Son, who had existed forever, in the form of a baby to live here on earth.

–              His rule would reach to the whole earth and he would take good care of his people – God arranged for the birth to be in the Roman period so that the news could reach far and wide quickly.

Reading Micah without knowing about Jesus is confusing, but reading it with the knowledge of Jesus makes complete sense. We may find God’s promises for the future confusing sometimes, but we can rest assured that God is working for our good. When God has accomplished his purpose, we will see exactly how he fitted it all together and every word is fulfilled.

May God enable you to hold onto His promises this Advent season.

With love and blessing,

Roland