---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God has a timeline. And because of…"
description: "\"God has a timeline. And because of Bethlehem, we have an idea where we stand on it.\" — Max Lucado"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/max-lucado-190_bethlehem_god-has-a-timeline-and-because-of-bethle_3042284.jpg"
---

#  God has a timeline. And because of Bethlehem, we have an…

![“God has a timeline. And because of Bethlehem, we have an idea where we stand on it.” quote by Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/max-lucado-190_bethlehem_god-has-a-timeline-and-because-of-bethle_3042284.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/max-lucado-190_bethlehem_god-has-a-timeline-and-because-of-bethle_3042284.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/max-lucado-190_bethlehem_god-has-a-timeline-and-because-of-bethle_3042284.jpg)

> “God has a timeline. And because of Bethlehem, we have an idea where we stand on it.”

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Divine timing is fixed; Bethlehem provides a reference point for our place in it.

**In simple terms:** God's timeline is set, Bethlehem shows our position.

Key Takeaway

Align actions with perceived divine schedule.

Themes

faith timing spirituality

Mood

hopeful contemplative

Type

theological inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal decisions
- life planning
- spiritual reflection

Key Concepts

theology interpretation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does this belief shape daily choices?
- Can timing be reconciled with free will?

A Different Perspective

Interpretations of timeline may vary across cultures.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Timeline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timeline/) [Timelines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timelines/)

## Related quotes

> [Facebook is developing, and so are we. Timeline is a big step in the evolution of how we manage our identity online - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/facebook-is-developing-and-so-are-we-timeline-is-a-big-step-in-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The Metropolitan Museum has all of our collections online, all our scholarly publications and catalogues since 1965. We have online features like the timeline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-p-campbell/the-metropolitan-museum-has-all-of-our-collections-online-all-our/)

[Thomas P. Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-p-campbell/)

> [We all have a timeline. Most of us don't live like we have a timeline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gleason/we-all-have-a-timeline-most-of-us-don-t-live-like-we-have-a-timeline/)

[Steve Gleason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gleason/)

> [I keep an elaborate calendar for my characters detailing on which dates everything happens. Im constantly revising this as I go along. It gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/i-keep-an-elaborate-calendar-for-my-characters-detailing-on-which/)

[Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/)

> [I'm 14 years in the game, ... There's some kids that weren't even born when my first album came out. I wanted to draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-quik/i-m-14-years-in-the-game-there-s-some-kids-that-weren-t-even-born/)

[DJ Quik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-quik/)

> [Tattoos, for me, are like a timeline of my life. I could look at a certain tattoo, and it reminds of me of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/tattoos-for-me-are-like-a-timeline-of-my-life-i-could-look-at-a/)

[Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/)

> [You should see some of the things people tweet me. There have been death wishes on my Twitter timeline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/you-should-see-some-of-the-things-people-tweet-me-there-have-been/)

[Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/)

> [I want to see books taken out of historical time and placed into a different timeline, such as evolutionary or geological time, as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-want-to-see-books-taken-out-of-historical-time-and-placed-into-a/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [We're at a point nowhere it has to change. We have characters that are not alive that are alive in the book. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-m-gimple/we-re-at-a-point-nowhere-it-has-to-change-we-have-characters-that-are/)

[Scott M. Gimple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-m-gimple/)

> [Does God understand you? Find the answer in Bethlehem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/does-god-understand-you-find-the-answer-in-bethlehem/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [You wonder if God has a place for a person like you. Find your answer in the Bethlehem stable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-wonder-if-god-has-a-place-for-a-person-like-you-find-your-answer/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Maybe your life resembles a Bethlehem stable. Crude in some spots, smelly in others. Not much glamour. Not always neat. People in your circle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/maybe-your-life-resembles-a-bethlehem-stable-crude-in-some-spots/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Bethlehem was just the beginning. I call Jesus Christ's next appearance, Bethlehem, Act 2. No silent night this time, however. The skies will open,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/bethlehem-was-just-the-beginning-i-call-jesus-christ-s-next/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Because of Bethlehem, I have a friend in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/because-of-bethlehem-i-have-a-friend-in-heaven/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Look at the Bethlehem birth. A king ordered a census. Joseph was forced to travel. Mary, as round as a ladybug, bounced on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/look-at-the-bethlehem-birth-a-king-ordered-a-census-joseph-was-forced/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

## More by Max Lucado

> [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [“Ageing. We laugh about it, and we groan about it. We resist it, but we cant't stop it. And with the chuckles and wrinkles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/ageing-we-laugh-about-it-and-we-groan-about-it-we-resist-it-but-we/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [“You’ve already learned, haven’t you, that a promise made is not always a promise kept? Just because someone is called your dad, that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-ve-already-learned-haven-t-you-that-a-promise-made-is-not-always/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [God is near whether you sense His presence or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-is-near-whether-you-sense-his-presence-or-not/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [If you're feeling pain, express that to the Lord. If you're feeling worried, express those worries. One passage that gives me comfort is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-you-re-feeling-pain-express-that-to-the-lord-if-you-re-feeling/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [The church is never a place to show off. Do your good deeds quietly. Serve; don't seek to be seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-church-is-never-a-place-to-show-off-do-your-good-deeds-quietly/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [If there are a thousand steps between us and God, He will take all but one. He will leave the final one for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-there-are-a-thousand-steps-between-us-and-god-he-will-take-all-but/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [God's love never ceases. Never... God doesn't love us less if we fail or more if we succeed. God's love never ceases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-s-love-never-ceases-never-god-doesn-t-love-us-less-if-we-fail-or/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Are you on the eve of change? Embrace it. Accept it. Don't resist it. Change is not only a part of life, change is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/are-you-on-the-eve-of-change-embrace-it-accept-it-don-t-resist-it/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [There's no limit to God's love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-s-no-limit-to-god-s-love/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-will-use-whatever-he-wants-to-display-his-glory-heavens-and-stars/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Whether or not storms come, we can not choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/whether-or-not-storms-come-we-can-not-choose-but-where-we-stare/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Write today's worries in sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/write-today-s-worries-in-sand-chisel-yesterday-s-victories-in-stone/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

[Explore all 968 Max Lucado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

## More Bethlehem quotes

> [“Rachel’s tomb is located a short distance north of Bethlehem, on the road between Jerusalem and Hebron. It consists of a small building with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/rachel-s-tomb-is-located-a-short-distance-north-of-bethlehem-on-the/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [This Christmas, as the spirit of the season permeates our hearts, let us do something that expresses our feelings in an outward way, showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-e-stevenson/this-christmas-as-the-spirit-of-the-season-permeates-our-hearts-let/)

[Gary E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-e-stevenson/)

> [And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/and-what-rough-beast-its-hour-come-round-at-last-slouches-toward/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [Force was the factor in the government of the world when Christ was born, and force was the source and exercise of authority both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-depew/force-was-the-factor-in-the-government-of-the-world-when-christ-was/)

[Chauncey Depew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-depew/)

> [“Shall we go to Bethlehem, men? Or shall we DANCE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/shall-we-go-to-bethlehem-men-or-shall-we-dance/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [Maybe your life resembles a Bethlehem stable. Crude in some spots, smelly in others. Not much glamour. Not always neat. People in your circle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/maybe-your-life-resembles-a-bethlehem-stable-crude-in-some-spots/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [During the first 13 centuries after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, no one thought of setting up a creche to celebrate Christmas. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/during-the-first-13-centuries-after-the-birth-of-jesus-in-bethlehem/)

[Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/)

> [Bethlehem and Golgotha, the Manger and the Cross, the birth and the death, must always be seen together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sidlow-baxter/bethlehem-and-golgotha-the-manger-and-the-cross-the-birth-and-the/)

[J. Sidlow Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sidlow-baxter/)

> [It is difficult to look at any newborn baby and accept that he or she will necessarily encounter pain, challenges, disappointments, and hardships in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-d-huntsman/it-is-difficult-to-look-at-any-newborn-baby-and-accept-that-he-or-she/)

[Eric D. Huntsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-d-huntsman/)

> [Christ was born in the first century, yet he belongs to all centuries. He was born a Jew, yet He belongs to all races.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-truett/christ-was-born-in-the-first-century-yet-he-belongs-to-all-centuries/)

[George W Truett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-truett/)

> [Let the Bible be the Bible. It's not about science. It's not accurate history. It is a grab bag of religious fantasies written by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/let-the-bible-be-the-bible-it-s-not-about-science-it-s-not-accurate/)

[Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/)

> [Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-franks/christmas-in-bethlehem-the-ancient-dream-a-cold-clear-night-made/)

[Lucinda Franks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-franks/)

> [I am not a believer in large salaries. I hold that every man should be paid for personal production. Our big men at Bethlehem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/i-am-not-a-believer-in-large-salaries-i-hold-that-every-man-should-be/)

[Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/)

> [Christ could be born a thousand times in Bethlehem - but all in vain until He is born in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelus-silesius/christ-could-be-born-a-thousand-times-in-bethlehem-but-all-in-vain/)

[Angelus Silesius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelus-silesius/)

Browse all 109 Bethlehem quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "God has a timeline. And because of Bethlehem, we have an idea where we stand on it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Max Lucado"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-has-a-timeline-and-because-of-bethlehem-we-have-an-idea-where-we/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bethlehem"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-has-a-timeline-and-because-of-bethlehem-we-have-an-idea-where-we/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/max-lucado-190_bethlehem_god-has-a-timeline-and-because-of-bethle_3042284.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/max-lucado-190_bethlehem_god-has-a-timeline-and-because-of-bethle_3042284.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/max-lucado-190_bethlehem_god-has-a-timeline-and-because-of-bethle_3042284.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“God has a timeline. And because of Bethlehem, we have an idea where we stand on it.” — Max Lucado",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Max Lucado",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "God has a timeline. And because...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-has-a-timeline-and-because-of-bethlehem-we-have-an-idea-where-we/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-has-a-timeline-and-because-of-bethlehem-we-have-an-idea-where-we/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
