Mensa Otabil - In the Right Place at the Right Time
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Well, this is Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas, and we’re in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 2, verses 4 and 5. Joseph also went from Galilee, out to the city of Nazareth in Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. God uses places to link us to His purposes, and throughout the Bible, you find that God assigns people to places they should be. He moved Abraham from his hometown to a place that was yet to be determined. He moved the children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land and from the Promised Land to Babylon, and so on. So throughout the Bible, you see a lot of movement. Joseph had to move to the land of Egypt, so God uses movement to place us in the center of His will. Don’t always see movement as a negativity, even if the surrounding events are negative. You have to understand that God uses places to bring us into the center of His will.
For Mary and Joseph, they were in the right place at the right time. They used to be in Nazareth; having been there for a while, now they are in Bethlehem. The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was quite a dangerous one; it was a hilly country, and it’s about 140 kilometers, very difficult to traverse that land. But they went through with all the threats from wild animals and the threats of thieves; they still survived it and arrived in the right place. Maybe God is also taking you on such a journey, and if you trust Him, He will bring you to the right place. Mary and Joseph, not being conscious of what was going on, were walking their way into prophecy. Their steps and actions were all synchronized to fit into something that had been said hundreds of years before they were born. They probably had read about it in the Old Testament; they knew what the prophet said about the Messiah, but they couldn’t see themselves being the ones God was using to fulfill this word.
You know, many times, God is able to use all of these events of life to position us where He wants us to be. You are in the center of prophecy. On the road to Bethlehem, there were many people who were on the road. I’m sure some were angry with the Romans for the inconvenience, while others were probably chatting and just being merry and happy. Everybody was on their merry way. For most of them, it was just a journey; for Mary and Joseph, it was prophecy being fulfilled. So sometimes, you can be in a crowd where something happens to all of you, but for you, it’s unique because God is using it especially to carry out His purpose in your life. Don’t join others in their unhappiness; you shouldn’t be unhappy just because they are. Always trust the Lord that He orders your steps.
Mary was with child, and she arrived in Bethlehem at the right time-the time for the child to be born. So you can say that they were in the right place at the right time. You know, sometimes people can be in a place but at the wrong time; when everything has stopped, that’s when they show up. But for Mary and Joseph, they were in the right place at the right time. In this season, especially as we enter a New Year, may the Lord locate you in the right place at the right time. May you be in the center of God’s purpose for your life, God’s prophetic direction for your life, and may you fulfill the destiny of God over you in Jesus' name. Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, You are my sovereign guide. Order my steps to the right place and in the right time, in Jesus' name. Amen and amen. Well, my friends, tomorrow is Christmas Day; it’s a day for us to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I trust that you will make time to be in church tomorrow morning. Well, I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom. Peace and life to you.