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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.

 

REFLECTION

I have always enjoyed travelling throughout my life, and one of the things I find fascinating—and amusing at the same time—is when things are uncovered in unusual locations: elaborate Roman mosaics discovered under a McDonald's, or ancient temples beneath a Holiday Inn. But my favourite discovery was that of King Richard III, buried unceremoniously with a Leicester office parking lot on top of his grave. How is it that a king was buried and forgotten here? People went about their business with no knowledge of who was laid to rest under their parking lot. With the discovery of King Richard III, the city of Leicester suddenly had something of major historical significance to boast about.
Jesus—the King of all kings—was born in a small, humble town with little to boast about. But unlike King Richard III, whose resting place was given little to no thought, God chose Bethlehem with great intention. God didn’t need worldly grandeur to carry out His plans. Jesus didn’t need to be born in a major city like Jerusalem in order to achieve greatness.
Sometimes it feels like what we have to offer is so small and insignificant. Time after time, however, God chooses the small and humble to achieve His plan. Just as He chose a small town for the birth of Jesus, He can use our own seemingly small and hidden offerings to accomplish remarkable things.

 

QUESTIONS

  • Why do you think God often chooses the humble and unexpected to fulfill His purposes, rather than using the powerful or prestigious?
  • Just as people walked over King Richard III’s burial site without realizing its significance, are there things in your life that you might be overlooking or underestimating?

 

FAMILY ACTIVITY

  • Look for objects around the house that seem ordinary, and talk about how they can be used for more than their intended purpose.
  • Discuss how God can use us in more ways than we can imagine.

 

PRAYER

  • God, thank you for the reminder that you don’t require us to be great in order for your plans to be fulfilled.  Help us to see that you are always at work, even when it’s hard to see.