Every year as we move into the season of Christmas, I find myself thinking about the shepherds, who were in the field, and the town of Bethlehem. Shepherds didn’t command respect the way that the religious leaders did. They didn’t hold influence on others, yet God chose them to be the first ones to hear the announcement of Jesus’s birth. They were treated as significant by God even though they were lowly. They were given a front row seat to God’s greatest gift to mankind, while being overlooked by society. God chose people who felt unseen to see the newborn King. I believe God still does that today. He is drawn to those who draw near to Him regardless of position, title or social standing.
For the same reasons, I believe God chose Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 says, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf” (NLT). Bethlehem felt small and insignificant to Jerusalem, yet God chose this city whose name means “House of Bread” to give us the Bread of life. It’s the city where Ruth gleaned in the fields. It’s home to the fields where David watched his father’s sheep. It’s the place the whole world now remembers at Christmas and sings songs about. Bethlehem didn’t have a palace or even room for Mary and Joseph to give birth in. Yet God proved once again that He will miraculously encounter those who do make room for Him, even if it feels you are as insignificant as a stable.
My favorite verse in all of this is Matthew 1:23. “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” God with US. God with YOU. He came into this world to be involved in your life, to reveal Himself to you and to let you know you are His greatest creation. Don’t deflect and say He’s here for others or that other people are more significant in the Kingdom than you. He will create divine encounters with anyone who makes room for Him, no matter how insignificant they feel. To me, this is the miracle of salvation that shows the heart of God who desperately wants you to know you matter to Him. That’s the miracle of Christmas.
Image by Google Gemini
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 