Day 12 – The Savior Is Here

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

~ Luke 2:1-7

Prophecies have been uttered. Covenants have been sealed. Promises have been made. Messengers have been sent out. The way has been prepared and at long last the Savior has come to Earth.

This great news has been proclaimed and our Savior has finally come…to the little, no-nothing town of Bethlehem. Christ has come, but He’s arrived by way of one of the most meaningless towns in Israel. Yet, not even this detail has escaped God’s pen of promise in the Old Testament:

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
   who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
   one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
   from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
   when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
   to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
   in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
   to the ends of the earth.
And he shall be their peace.”

~ Micah 5:2-5

It is this pitiful town’s stable that Jesus comes to the Earth. The One who will be King of kings and the peace of the earth spends His first night among animals and hay. God takes such a humble and unassuming birthday to be the beginning of the earthly life that will change the world.

Do you have times when you feel completely insignificant? You feel like you are floating along in life and there isn’t a single person who notices you exist. That sort of discourage cuts to the core of who we are, shaking our identity and our hope.

Yet, don’t let that discourage you. The long-awaited Messiah came to earth with little fanfare outside of some shepherds and some wise men who came from afar. The greatest moment in human history happened in Bethlehem 2000 years ago with few people stopping to pay attention.

That should make us all stop and rejoice. Our sovereign God is one who uses the weak things to shame the strong and the foolish things to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). He will use seemingly insignificant people and moments to shape the course of human history.

Rejoice today knowing that God can use simple people like you and I as a part of His sovereign plan of redemption.

Prayer

Take a few minutes and ask God to be your strength and your identity. May you not see yourself as insignificant, but that you would see yourself as a precious child of the Most High.