Read Advent Excerpts
Guided question at the bottom.
Read: Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1-6
Micah
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
Matthew
The Magi Visit the Messiah
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Questions
The city of Bethlehem wasn’t known for much, outside of being identified as the birthplace of a ruler by the prophet Micah. Mary & Joseph, who lived in Nazareth, were only in Bethlehem because of the census and yet were exactly where they were supposed to be.
How many times this year have you been frustrated at where you find yourself, not realizing it’s exactly where God wanted you? Take some time and ask God to help you see His hand at work wherever your journey takes you this week.