He Went There

Luke 2:4&5 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and live of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

At one time in my life I actually enjoyed traveling in the winter. I was much younger and thoroughly enjoyed skiing. We in eastern Idaho are truly blessed with some awesome skiing venues. Sun Valley, Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee resorts are among the best in the world. In my trips to these resorts I missed the sights along the way because I was focused on making it to the destination. What I forgot was that in going to these mountain locations is the scenic beauty is far and above what I enjoyed on my journeys to ski hills back in the flat land of my youth called

Michigan. Remember to savor the journey, and to not be obsessed with the destination.

            Traveling any distance in modern times is drastically different than in the times of Mary & Joseph. Today we jump in our car and off we go. Warm & comfortable with many places to stop for breaks, food, and other necessities describes our journies. Joseph and Mary had no such conveniences on the road to Bethlehem. Travel was on foot or on the back of a donkey. Their journey took place in the fall/winter so chilly weather was the norm. And they could not just pull over at a truck stop. Additionally there was the chance encounter with bandits to consider. Joseph and Mary had little choice in making the journey. It was a trip they simply had to take for fulfill the requirements of the census decreed by the government. Joseph was from the house and line of David so they had to travel to Bethlehem. And Mary accompanied Joseph, even though she was with child. Today, such a journey would not be permitted in consideration of the safety of the mother and unborn child. We say we value human life more in modern times. Some will argue that point, but we like to “think” that is the case.  The point I seek to make is Mary accompanied Joseph out of Real Love. She was to be his wife. He was to be her husband. And even though the words were not yet captured in scripture the principle of Real Love abounded as described in Ephesians 5:1. “Submit to on another out of reverence for Christ.” Our takeaway from their journey is we do things for our spouses out of Real Love. We do so without some hidden score sheet and an expectation that it will be “our turn” next. We do for each other out of love, just as Christ first loved us. No score recorded, no tally taken. We just do. The reason is Real Love. It may seem too simplistic, but then again the best things in life really are the simple things.

PRAYER: Lord we lift up our spouses to You in thanksgiving. You give us a loved one to care for, and to share our lives. Help us to cherish the times we have as husband and wife. Help us to keep our love for each other strong. And let our love be modeled on how Christ first loved us. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.