Miracle on the Roman Road

Scripture: Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which translated means, God with us.

One of my favorite holiday movies is, Miracle on 34th Street. The movie is about a gentleman claiming to be Santa Claus, a young girl who doesn’t believe in Santa, and a group of people determined to discredit him. Every year, I look forward to seeing this movie, even though I know how it ends. I watch with eager anticipation as some mean people try to discredit Mr. Kringle even getting him jailed. I’m equally as excited to watch the group of people who would stop at nothing to support him and make sure their children know he is real.  Wow, although this is a fictional character, I know real flesh and blood people who will go to great lengths to preserve the image of Santa Claus. I’ll be honest, I like the “idea” of Santa and his Christmas magic but Santa has nothing to do with Christmas. Christmas is about Christ and the real miracle happened in a little town called Bethlehem and that town is the start of the Roman Road.

The year is somewhere between 6 and 4 BC, at that time a young virgin and her husband are expecting a son. The Bible tells us that in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, He is the Messiah, the Lord (Luke 2:11). The miracle starts here and because of this we can experience the miracle of the Roman Road.

Our journey starts on rocky ground as we are told, that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). However, as we walk further, the ground smooths a bit as we reach Romans 5:1. It is here that we realized that being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. As we continue to travel this road, we are assured of the forementioned peace: But God demonstrated His love toward us, that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). As we continue to travel the road, we are given another reminder of the miracle this road carries. At juncture 6:23, we are told that the wage of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. That portion of the road was not without it’s hills and valleys…But God! Although, we have a way to go, the grace of the Lord has sustained us and we have reached a rest stop. Here we can rest because Romans 8:1 says, therefore, there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. At this rest stop you can reflect on the starting point of this miracle; Baby Jesus. It’s here that you can rest in the fact that what the law couldn’t do because it was weak in the flesh, God corrected by sending His own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and condemned that sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3). It is okay, to shout a bit as you rest in this and although, your journey is not over this portion of the road is flat and easy to walk on. A few blocks down you hit a turn and here the sign gives you encouragement to continue on. The sign at juncture 8:38 & 39 says, For I am persuaded, that nether death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. As you marvel at the beauty around you, you may begin to feel that you have reached your destination. You are looking out on the vast land of plush grass, grains, and corn and may be thinking I have made it to the end of the road until you see a sign that says, continue straight your destination is near. This part of the road looks to be extremely smooth but for many this is where they struggle. This last bit of road is where your muscles begin to ache and this may prove to be the most difficult part of the journey. It is here that the traveler must put his money where his mouth is. It is at this part of the road where your faith becomes action. The 10: 9 – 13 stretch of the Roman road says, if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. The miracle that started in Bethlehem manifested itself fully at this point. Romans 10:11 – 13 says, whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Herein lies the true miracle of the Christmas season and that miracle starts with Christ in Bethlehem and ends with Christ in Heaven. Glory to God in the highest.

Prayer: Dear Lord, my Savior and my King. Forgive us for exalting things and even people higher than you during the Christmas season. Forgive those who knowingly X out your name for time’s sake during a season that is all about You. Thank you for the reminder of the miracle of salvation because without You, we all would be lost. Thank you, Lord, for Your patience, Your understanding, Your Grace, Your Mercy and Your love that was demonstrated toward us that when we were still sinners You died for us. Forgive us when we fail to appreciate that love. Thank you for Your word that reminds us of that love, that leads us and directs us, and is the best instructional manual of righteous living ever written. Lord, I thank you for Your Son, Jesus the Christ who died for our sins and rose so that we might live and live more abundantly. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.
(by Patricia Towns)