**Daily Devotional** **December 22** *4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. - Luke 2:4-6 (KJV)* The Christmas Story continues. Notice that Joseph went to pay his taxes, and that is a godly thing to do, as the bible says we are to owe nothing, but love, to any man (Romans 13:8). For a Christian to not pay his debts, including taxes, is the same thing as stealing, and certainly is not Christ like. Joseph was a descendant of David’s (Matthew 1:1-17), so he had to go to the city of David, called Bethlehem, to pay his taxes. To travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, would have been about 69 miles by air, but on foot in probably would have been close to 80 miles or so. Can you imagine the hardship on Mary, being ready to deliver a child, to have to travel that far? And we think we have things tough now. When they got to Bethlehem, Mary went into labor. Think how hard it would be, to have been traveling for days, and then going into labor in a strange place – wow! It would have been much better for Mary to have been at home, and had a mid-wife help her with her delivery, but that was not what had been prophesized, so this was what had to happen for prophecy to be fulfilled. Praise God that all went well. Devotional by Pastor Joe W. Green, www.infinite-faith.com