Morning Devotional

December 16, 2003

"One Brick at a Time" 

by Don Emmitte

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At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancé, who was obviously pregnant by this time. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn. (Luke 2:1-7 NLT).

Perhaps you’ve heard the modern proverb “one brick at a time.” I have never used that particular one myself. I prefer others. My sons could tell you that one of my favorites was always “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” Others are equally as worn from use, like “a place for everything and everything in its place.” All of these indicate that there is an order or sequence to most things we do in life. God also has an order for things. This is seen in the birth of Jesus.

The ruler of the known world ordered a census to be taken for tax purposes. Compared to the birth of the Messiah, this seems a small thing. However when this small thing happened, many other things began to happen. The Bible records one of these seemingly little things. According to God’s plan, the big picture involved Christ coming into the world in a hamlet called Bethlehem. Getting Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem involved a census of the whole world. In God’s world, little things of life make up the big picture.

Life is a carefully constructed building. Every brick has a place. Every window and door fits the plan. The big building is incomplete without every little piece in place. In God’s world, following God’s plan, the little things in life always make up the big picture.

I wonder what might have happened if Joseph were to have been disobedient and not gone to Bethlehem? Perhaps he thought about sending a representative. Perhaps he thought he might go and leave Mary behind. Of course, that seems most unlikely to us looking back. But I wonder how many times we’ve failed to accomplish God’s best simply because we took a short cut. As you begin to let the Christmas story permeate your mind this year, think on those times when you may have done better with a little more effort or concentration. Perhaps it was a commitment you made last year and gave up before it was fulfilled. Perhaps it was a habit that you determined needed to be changed. Renew that vow this year and determine to stay on track, one brick at a time. The old adage is true: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” Follow God’s example of building one brick at a time!