Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
Bethlehem Is About God Choosing a Small Town
If modern men were putting together the Christmas story they would most likely have Jesus being born in a big city like New York or Los Angeles. This way the event could be covered by media from around the world.
God, however, loves to do great things in ways that seem small and insignificant. In the days of the prophet Micah, people thought that Jerusalem and Rome were important, but Micah pointed out that it was the Little Town of Bethlehem that would be remembered year after year. Bethlehem rose above all other cities because Bethlehem was the place God chose. “ 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
Ask your friends to name the 3-4 most important cities on earth. They will probably begin with New York, but their list would be incorrect. Bethlehem should top the list, because in the Little Town of Bethlehem, the Savior of the world was born.
When great things happen in grand places, the people of those places get the credit. God, however, loves to move in small places where, in the end, He and He alone is praised. You who labor for God in small unnoticed places should be encouraged to learn that God often passes over the Jerusalems of this world to visit the Bethlehems.
Bethlehem Is About God Choosing a Common Woman
If men and women were scripting the Christmas event they would choose the greatest hospital of the nation and the finest suite in that hospital. Jesus was not born in such a place. Jesus was born in a stable, and his first bed was a feeding trough. Not only that, but the woman chosen to be the vessel through which He came, was not a queen, but a commoner.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
Mary was from a poor family and was marrying into a poor family. When the hotels were full, Mary and Joseph were perfectly willing to settle down for the night in a barn. Jesus was wealthy beyond our wildest dreams, but He left the wealth of His Heavenly glory and became poor.
As I look among the ladies of my own congregation there are none among us who are wealthy. All are common people - Nurses – Hairdressers – Housewives – Gardeners – Housekeepers - All common women doing common jobs. To you I say, God loves to use women like you. He loves to take your mission efforts and turn the world upside down.
May we all strive to be people like Mary and Joseph. They were common people living ordinary lives. Such people God loves to use.
Bethlehem Is About God Choosing Insignificant People
Jesus came into this world on the Divine mission to redeem the chosen ones of The Father. Here is how the Bible puts it:
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Do not lust after fame and notoriety. Do not idolize the rich and famous. A few of them have been chosen, but “Not Many”.
If you would number yourself among God’s chosen ones then you must humbly admit that you are nothing, and that Christ Jesus is everything. He is your Lord and your Savior
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