We are continuing our devotionals on the themes associated with Advent. Last week we looked at “Hope”. The first candle is often called the Prophecy candle. The second is sometimes called the Bethlehem candle and it refers to Christ’s humble birth. God chooses unlikely people and places to reveal his blessing. This is demonstrated when God chose David to be the King of Israel even though David was the youngest of his family and David’s father, Jesse, hadn’t even thought to bring him in from the field to be presented to the prophet Samuel as part of the selection process.
Christ’s birth in Bethlehem was foretold in Micah 5:2:
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times."
Notice the disclaimer within the prophecy: “though you are small”. Bethlehem was not as important a city as Jerusalem but it was going to be the birthplace of a great ruler. If someone was looking for a great ruler to be born in Jesus’ day, they probably would have looked to Rome and not to the little city of Bethlehem. Yet this is where the God of the Universe was born as a human. Even if someone had studied the prophesy and believed that an important ruler was to be born in Bethlehem, they could never have imagined that it would be made more humble by taking place in a stable. God decided to allow Himself to be born in a town of no reputation, in a busy town that had no room for Him.
“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Christ’s birth in Bethlehem was foretold in Micah 5:2:
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times."
Notice the disclaimer within the prophecy: “though you are small”. Bethlehem was not as important a city as Jerusalem but it was going to be the birthplace of a great ruler. If someone was looking for a great ruler to be born in Jesus’ day, they probably would have looked to Rome and not to the little city of Bethlehem. Yet this is where the God of the Universe was born as a human. Even if someone had studied the prophesy and believed that an important ruler was to be born in Bethlehem, they could never have imagined that it would be made more humble by taking place in a stable. God decided to allow Himself to be born in a town of no reputation, in a busy town that had no room for Him.
“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:4-7
It is an amazing beginning to the most extraordinary life this world has ever known. It shows that God was not going to take the easy way out. He was not willing to become a human in only the best of conditions. He wanted to live in ordinary places surrounded by ordinary people. The seemingly ordinary or even sub-ordinary would be used for His glory. The manger that was made for the animals would be given an honour greater than any throne made in history. The house of a tax collectors and seaside villages would become His court, and finally, a rough cross, a device made for torture would become the tool that would bring our salvation.
Ordinary things were made extraordinary by His presence. I thank God that He was willing to humble Himself and that He still chooses to turn our ordinary lives into extraordinary lives that bring glory to Him.
Mark Wallace
It is an amazing beginning to the most extraordinary life this world has ever known. It shows that God was not going to take the easy way out. He was not willing to become a human in only the best of conditions. He wanted to live in ordinary places surrounded by ordinary people. The seemingly ordinary or even sub-ordinary would be used for His glory. The manger that was made for the animals would be given an honour greater than any throne made in history. The house of a tax collectors and seaside villages would become His court, and finally, a rough cross, a device made for torture would become the tool that would bring our salvation.
Ordinary things were made extraordinary by His presence. I thank God that He was willing to humble Himself and that He still chooses to turn our ordinary lives into extraordinary lives that bring glory to Him.
Mark Wallace
0 comments:
Post a Comment