Devotion Corner

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

Augustus was arguably the most celebrated and powerful of all the Roman Caesars. A man who designated himself the son of a god (Julius Caesar), Augustus wielded power over huge swathes of the world. In his might, he called for a census so that he could reap riches from the oppressed peoples under his unbending rule.

Yet it was in those very same days, through that same seeking of wealth from the poor and lowly, that the Son of God came in the flesh of man. Christ Jesus came not to tax and oppress the weak, poor and lowly, but to bring hope and deliverance to such heavy souls. He came to give freedom from sin, to all those who would receive Him as their Lord and Saviour.

Augustus claimed that in his might, ‘Pax Romana’ or Roman peace, was given to nations. Yet this was done through the brutality of the sword. Whereas the newborn King that was Jesus Christ, does not save and thereby bring peace to hearts by the sword (1 Samuel 17:47). He redeems souls from the fires of Hell by the power of His Word and His risen glory! 

The peace that Augustus could bring was easily broken and limited to political structures. As the Roman philosopher Epictetus observed, Augustus could not bring peace to the hearts of anyone, and that is the peace most desired by us all. Yet there came the Son of God, born in poverty and placed in a manger for His bed, to give the peace of God to all those who receive Him as their Lord and God. This is the peace that we Christians enjoy each day and give great thanks unto God for at Christmas time.