Daily devotion – a little town called Bethlehem.
Bethlehem: Looking Forward to His Return
Scripture: Zechariah 12:9
Are you ready for Christmas? It’s just 59 days to go until we gather to give thanks and celebrate the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! I love having a long lead-up to Christmas, beginning even now to read the Gospel accounts of Christ’s birth, the part played by Joseph and Mary, and, of course, the shepherds who received the glorious announcement of His birth.
When we used to tour Israel, Bethlehem was included in our itinerary. However, with the changing situation in the West Bank, Judea and Samaria, we no longer include that section of our tour. Bethlehem has never been a major drawcard for tourists, being somewhat out of the way, and many Christian families have moved away amid the ongoing tensions and hostilities in the region.
The church built over the traditional site of Christ’s birth has an ancient, almost barn-like appearance, with the grotto beneath it marking the place where Jesus is believed to have been born.
More than 2,000 years have passed since Jesus was born in this little town, yet our world, and particularly Israel, continues to experience conflict and turmoil. The Roman Empire once dominated the land, but today Israel faces continuing hostility and international pressure as it seeks to defend its very existence.
But the story does not end with conflict, suffering or the plans of men! The day is coming when the Lord Jesus Christ will return, and the nations that oppose Jerusalem will be held accountable before Him.
Zechariah 12:9 declares, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”
What a reminder that God has not forgotten His promises or abandoned His purposes! The Lord who came humbly into this world as a baby in Bethlehem will one day return in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords.
I look forward to the day when I can visit Bethlehem again under very different circumstances. What a joy it will be to stand once more in that historic location, remembering that our Saviour came into this world here, fulfilling the promises of God and bringing salvation to all who believe in Him.
As we prepare for Christmas, let us remember that the baby born in Bethlehem is also the coming King! We celebrate His first coming, but we also look forward with great expectation to His return.
Are you ready? Not simply for Christmas, but for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? May we be found faithfully serving Him, sharing the Gospel and looking for that blessed hope!
“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” — Revelation 22:20