Devotion by Stephen Castleberry
Bethlehem Ephrathah,
you are small among the clans of Judah;
one will come from you
to be ruler over Israel for me.
His origin is from antiquity,
from ancient times. (Micah 5:2)
Before the Wise Men, before Bethlehem, even before creation itself—Jesus already was. When Isaiah called Him “Eternal Father,” he pointed to Christ’s timeless nature.
Time erodes many things—buildings, memories, even human feelings. But the love of Christ can’t be contained by a timeline. Being eternal, Jesus’s love has always been and will always be!
Isaiah saw a King whose compassion stretches endlessly forward and backward. Jesus’s story didn’t start in Bethlehem—He has always existed as a member of the Trinity with God the Father and God the Spirit.
Christ coming to earth wasn’t a last-ditch effort; it was the plan from eternity past (Revelation 13:8).
Think about this . . .
Before you were born, He provided for your salvation because before you loved Him, He already loved you.
Wherever you are today, know this: Jesus’s love for you is stronger than your guilt and your shame. He doesn’t grow tired of forgiving or weary of pursuing.
So take heart: no matter where you’ve wandered, His arms remain open. His love never fails. His love is eternal.
Reflect:
– In what areas of my life am I tempted to believe God’s love has limits or an expiration date?
– Where might I need to return to the open arms of Jesus today—trusting that He’s never grown weary of pursuing me?
Pray:
Jesus, help me rest in the reality that Your love, Your grace, and Your salvation for me existed before time began and will carry me into eternity. Amen.