The prophecy from Micah has a lot of negative promises for Israel.  That's certainly the case in Micah 5:3:  ³The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies  until the woman in labor gives birth. After the good news that a ruler would come out of Bethlehem, whose origins were from the ancient past, Micah tells the people of Israel that in the immediate future they would be abandoned to their enemies.  In one sense this "immediate future" lasted until the 20th century!  After all, the nation of Israel did not become a sovereign nation from hundreds of years before the time of Jesus until the 20th century.

The people of Israel did receive their Savior, their Messiah, their Ruler nearly 2,000 years ago, but their political situation didn't change.  The Romans ruled over them when Jesus was born, and they still ruled over Israel when Jesus rose from the dead after His crucifixion and ascended to heaven.  The difference--and it is an incredible difference--that Jesus' first coming made is the people of Israel and all people everywhere were given the possibility of being freed from their bondage to sin and death!  That isn't what the Israelites were looking for in Jesus' day.  They wanted political freedom.  They wanted a great king, in the pattern of King David.  What they received was a suffering servant, Jesus, who came to die in our place, so we may live forever! 

When Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised to return and restore ALL things.  We're still waiting for that return.  It could be today, or tomorrow, or next year, or a hundred years from now. We don't know.  What we do know is that Jesus has kept every promise He made us, so He won't leave us down with this one.  Take a moment right now to consider whether you're ready to do what Jesus would have you be doing when He returns.  Jesus never told us WHEN He would return, but He told us many times to be READY when He comes.  What are you doing in this Christmas season to get ready for Jesus' return? What if He did return today?  Would you be ready?  The only good answer to that question is, "Yes!" If it's, "No," or "I'm not sure," then what will it take to get you to, "Yes."? That's your homework for today--getting to YES!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for who You are and for sending Jesus to give freedom to all of us!  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may live in readiness and may share the joy You give us with those around us.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.