Government, Census & The Birth - Day 20

Text if you need me? Prayer or just need encouragement…

What if the most ordinary directive in your life is the doorway to God’s perfect timing? We open Luke 2:1–7 and watch a census from Caesar Augustus reroute Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, landing them in the exact place Micah promised the Messiah would be born. 

We explore the unity of Scripture by placing this quiet moment beside another census: David’s pride-fueled count in 2 Samuel 24 that brought heavy consequences. That contrast reveals how motives matter and how obedience especially when it looks inconvenient positions us for grace.

As we near Christmas, this reflection invites you to look again at the detours in your own story. Where might obedience in the ordinary be the very road to promise? Listen for encouragement rooted in Scripture, a prayer for alignment with God’s timing, and practical hope for the season.

If this spoke to you, subscribe for the rest of the Christmas devotional series, share the episode with a friend who needs a nudge of courage, and leave a review so more listeners can find these reflections.

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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Hello, hello, this is Jesse Morgan Devotions for
the Christian Heart Podcast.
Welcome, welcome.
This year I'm bringing my 25-dayChristmas devotional to life in
a new way.
Beginning on day 11 through day25, each devotional entry now
has a matching mini podcastepisode, a simple 8 to 10 minute
reflection designed to help youslow down and truly sit with the

(00:22):
story of Jesus' birth.
Each episode clearly follows thesame day as the written
devotional, so day 11 in thebook is day 11 on the podcast
and so forth.
My hope is that these dailyaudio reflections make the
journey to Christmas feel evenmore personal, peaceful, and
meaningful.
Thank you for being here.
Let's go.

(00:45):
The Census and the SaviorEpisode 87, Day 20, Luke 2, 1
through 7.
In those days, Caesar Augustusissued a decree that a census
should be taken of the entireRoman world.
This was the first census thattook place while there was a
governor of Syria.

(01:05):
And everyone went to their owntown to register.
So Joseph also went up from thetown of Nazareth in Galilee to
Judah, to Bethlehem, the town ofDavid, because he belonged to
the house in the line of David.
He went there to register withMary, who was pledged to be
married to him and was expectinga child.
While they were there, the timecame for the baby to be born,

(01:26):
and she gave birth to herfirstborn a son.
She wrapped him in cloths andplaced him in a manger because
there was no guest roomavailable for them.
Now, what I just love about theBible is how deeply connected it
is.
The Old Testament is tied to theNew Testament, and the New
Testament fulfills the Old.
Nothing stands alone, everythingpoints to Jesus.

(01:48):
When we read about Jesus' birth,it's told so simply.
You know, there's no place,there's I mean, there's no
palace, there's no parade, noroyal announcement.
Mary and Joseph had to travel toBethlehem because of a census.
They slept outside, the baby waswrapped in cloths and laid in a
manger.
Joseph went to Bethlehem becausehe was from the line of David,

(02:09):
and that's exactly where theMessiah was prophesied to be
born.
God didn't complicate it.
Jesus came into the world humblythrough a virgin with no earthly
status attached.
He grew up among his peoplequietly, only to later become
the savior of the world.
And when you really sit back andthink about it, that's
incredible.
I also believe there's no suchthing as coincidence in

(02:32):
scripture or in our lives.
When I read, when I read aboutthe census during Jesus' birth,
I always it always reminds me ofanother census in the Bible, one
involving King David.
In his later years, Davidordered a census of Israel
against God's instruction.
His heart was rooted in prideand self-reliance rather than
trusting in the Lord.

(02:54):
As a result of thatdisobedience, God allowed a
plague to come upon Israel, and70,000 people died as a
consequence.
This is in 2 Samuel 24.
David was devastated, he fell tohis knees, repented, and begged
God for mercy.
That story always sticks to mefor some reason, just because of

(03:14):
the concept of a census.
So, anyways, now fast forward toJoseph and Mary.
This census wasn't an act ofdisobedience by Joseph, it was
ordained by God.
Joseph followed direction placedbefore him, even though it was
probably very inconvenient anduncomfortable.
And look at what came from it.

(03:34):
Because of that census, Josephtraveled to Bethlehem, the exact
place that Micah 5-2 prophesiesthe Messiah the Messiah would be
born.
If that census had neverhappened, Joseph would have
wouldn't have gone to Bethlehemand the prophecy wouldn't have
been fulfilled.
Look at how God moves puzzlepieces.
Look at how he uses systems,timing, and even government

(03:56):
orders to fulfill divinepromises.
What once brought consequencesand disobedience became a
blessing through obedience.
And I think about this in my ownlife.
Back in 2013, 2014, about I wason and off with a guy.
I dated other people, but Ialways found myself gravitating
towards him.

(04:17):
And truthfully, he was no good.
He never wanted to commit, noeffort, no follow-through.
It was annoying and frustratingover the years.
And at the time I was working atMacy's in Miami, my first year
there.
And one day my district vicepresident and district HR
director told me that HaroldSquare in New York City, the
flagship, wanted to interviewme.

(04:38):
I was blown away, shocked.
I went to the interview, got theposition, and I moved.
Yes, it was an amazing careeropportunity and move, but if I'm
being honest with you today, andI've never said this, about 70%
of me moved out of frustrationand spite.
I was tired of waiting on thisguy who wasn't choosing me.
I think my proximity, because helived in Orlando, I lived in

(05:01):
Miami, and being just threehours away, he i it it made him
comfortable.
Like, she'll always be there.
When I told him I was moving toNew York, he was stunned.
And after that, the relationshipfizzled out completely, and it
was meant to.
But if I hadn't moved, if Ihadn't followed that unexpected,

(05:23):
uncomfortable nudge orfrustration I was going through,
I wouldn't have never met thelove of my life.
God knew exactly what he wasdoing.
He used a situation that didn'tmake sense to me at the time to
lead me to my husband.
And that's how God works.
Sometimes the moves feelcalculated, sometimes the

(05:44):
direction feels odd, sometimeswe're just saying, okay, Lord, I
guess I'll go.
But there is always purposebehind his instructions.
Just like the census broughtJoseph to Bethlehem at the
perfect moment, God uses thedetails of our lives to bring
about his promises to us.

(06:05):
And now, here we are, just daysaway from celebrating the birth
of Jesus Christ.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you forgiving us your Son.
Thank you for the humble,intentional way Jesus entered
this world.
We thank you for your perfecttiming, your obedience, your
love.
Jesus, we praise you for who youare and for the gift of your

(06:25):
life.
We love you and we honor you,Lord, and we praise you.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Love you all.
Till next time.
Thank you for listening.
This episode is part of myChristmas devotional series
inspired by my writtendevotional, 25 Days Till
Christmas, a scripture-filledjourney preparing our hearts to

(06:47):
celebrate the birth of Jesus.
I invite you to read along andreflect on his story in a deeper
way.
Details in the show notes forthe written devotional.
And it also says in Scripture,Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth, peace, goodwilltowards men.
Luke 2.14.
And don't miss the nextreflection in this Christmas
series by subscribing to thepodcast to continue walking

(07:09):
through God's Word this season.
And a little bit about me.
I'm Jesse Morgan, wife, mom, anddevotional writer and podcaster
who loves sharing biblicalencouragement and the hope we
find in Jesus.
Till next time, Jesse Morgansigning off.