Psalm 111:4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate.//

The reason we remember what God has done is BECAUSE He is gracious and compassionate.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

Matthew 3:13-14//

Lord, make me as humble as John.

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

Matthew 2:9-10//

Bethlehem was a mere five miles from Jerusalem, but Herod would not travel to see the true Messiah. Our sinful nature keeps us from wanting to get close to God when He comes close to us.

He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Matthew 2:8//

Evil sometimes disguises itself as good in an attempt to destroy Jesus, but Jesus always trumps evil. Praise the Lord for His soverignty!

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Matthew 2:7,16//

For two years, Herod had not seen the sign of the Savior. When we focus on our own selfish desires, we miss what God wants us to see and what He wants for us.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and 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.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

Matthew 2:1-3//

If we do not study God’s Word, we will miss important signs that should be clear to us.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:20-21//

To receive the gift from the Holy Spirit, Joseph first had to accept Jesus into his life. It is more than mere coincidence that we have to accept Jesus into our heart before we receive the Holy Spirit.

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Luke 2:16//

The shepherds hurried toward God and His miracle. Do I rush toward or away from God when He speaks to me?

Here is my devo for the night:

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2:11//

Notice the verb is past tense, “has been.” Sometimes God has done a significant work or miracle and we only find out about it after it has occurred.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Luke 2:15//

When Gabriel appeared and gave the news, Mary asked, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” On the other hand, the shepherds responded with action. Do I question God or respond with action?