Small But Significant

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." (Micah 5:2 NKJ)

In 1868, renowned Episcopal pastor Phillip Brooks penned the words to "O Little Town of Bethlehem." He claimed this song came to him as he reflected on a Christmas service he had attended in Bethlehem five years earlier. It deeply moved Brooks who said, "At that service the whole church was bursting with Christmas songs and music. I was moved to tears from the emotions of the moment."

Brooks captured the significance of God's work in this now famous and loved Christmas carol. Note the third stanza . . .

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

The Prophet Micah had already proclaimed that God's Anointed One would come in a quiet manner from an unexpected place. God always surprises his adversary with the unexpected. This truth is still applicable to 21st century believers.

In our lives there are thousands of small, insignificant sources of victory for God to choose. And he doesn't have to do some huge flamboyant thing full of fanfare and publicity. Jesus wasn't born in a king's palace. His birth wasn't proclaimed on the nightly world news. Yet, he came and brought the victory of joy and peace to all people.

Our Savior -- the One to be Ruler in Israel -- was born in a simple stable somewhere in the little first century town called Bethlehem, with only Mary and Joseph as witnesses. He is the One who exists from everlasting to everlasting and the unexpected, insignificant, unidentified place of his birth does not, in any manner, eliminate his identity nor his significance to mankind.

Dear Father, thank you for imparting your wondrous gift to human hearts. May we meekly receive Christ as Lord and Savior forevermore. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Today receive Christ as your Lord and Savior,