Have you ever felt insignificant? It is something that I have battled my whole life. I have at times felt worthless, insignificant, and like I have very little to contribute whether it was a team I played on or even in leadership today. However, no one is insignificant, because God has given us our significance by creating us in His image. In today’s text, we are going to see how a small town in Israel, played a big role in identifying who Jesus was. Micah 5:2 says, “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.”
This is a prophecy about the Messiah, and where He would be born. This is why it is important to understand where Jesus was born. This was an indicator for Israel as to the identity of the promised Savior. The paradox in this verse is this, the eternal God, who has neither beginning nor end, was born. Yet, this is exactly what the Bible says of Jesus. Bethlehem was a small town. A little blip on the map so to speak. Yet, God would use it for a big purpose. This shows us that God uses the least likely to accomplish His purpose. Maybe you are like me and you battle yourself, and you feel like you don’t belong or that you don’t have anything to contribute. If that is you, I hope you will read this next line; it’s not about you, it’s about God! The truth is, we don’t have any value or significance in and of ourselves. However, it is God who gives us our worth, our significance, and our identity. It’s not about what we can do for God. Rather, it is about what God does in us, and then through us. Therefore, we must learn to trust God’s plan not only for the world, but also for our lives. When God uses the seeming “nobody”, He receives the greatest glory for what is accomplished. So, let’s not get caught up in being a “nobody.” Instead, let’s praise God as the Casting Crowns song, Nobody, says, “I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, all about somebody” who changed my life and will change theirs to. That somebody is Jesus. Let’s tell the world about His power, glory, and grace that can change the world.
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Justin