Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 2 verses 1 through 7:
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Read the history books and you'll discover all the man names and titles Gaius Octavius had bestowed upon himself as Emperor. There was princeps civitatis, which roughly translates as “the first citizen.” There was Pater Patriae, meaning “Father of the Country." There was augustus, meaning venerable. And, finally, there was divi filius meaning "son of God".
Into this world of self-designated titles for a self-grandiose and narcissistic emperor came the birth of a little baby, whose parents only had a few hand-me-downs and a little toy box to wrap him in. Who would have known that this barn in the back where the baby was born would become the first church, and the humble baby would grow up to take the title from all emperors, authorities, kings, and presidents, and rulers everywhere -- including "son of God".
But that is how it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, God's world without end. Amen. And amen.
NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow we will read Matthew chapter 2.
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