“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight” are the words sung every Christmas in that cherished anthem of Christmas “O Little Town of Bethlehem”. At first glance, Bethlehem did not have the pomp and circumstance of Jerusalem five miles north. One of the common complaints that I hear from many people who live in country towns is “Well there is just nothing to do”. Jerusalem was where all the happenings where. If you wanted to do something exciting, go to Jerusalem. In my mind, that is the attitude people had Jerusalem in the Biblical times. It was more or less a stopping point or a resting place from all the hoopla surrounding Jerusalem. Bethlehem in comparison to Jerusalem was “insignificant”. But yet from this little town just beyond the reaches of Jerusalem, the prophet Micah prophesies that an event that will forever change the world and history will occur. 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.) From this insignificant town came on of the most significant figure in world and Christian history. The birth of Jesus. God chose a little town as a place to be born. He left the richest throne to be born in a humble town. He left elegance and chose plain. Isn’t that the way God operates? He does not always chose the best and brightest to further His plans. He chose simple fisherman who were viewed by society as “uneducated and untrained men” (Acts 4:13) that set the stage of the New Testament church era. He chose a young boy unskilled in warfare but trained as a Shepherd to defeat a seasoned veteran of war. He chose a donkey. Yes a donkey, to teach a lesson to a prophet. He has chosen the faith of children as a lasting picture to the “much wiser” adults of what faith really is and the type of faith we should have. 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. (I Corinthians 1:26-29) What makes Bethlehem significant? The answer to that question is to see what occurred within its boundaries. Jesus. It is that same Jesus who comes into our heart and enables us to become significant to carry out the purpose of God. Moses was able to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go but not because of what he spoke. By his own admission, Moses said that he was not eloquent. The impact of Moses was not Moses himself but that God was with Him. In that same light, the power of the Holy Spirit enables and empowers us to perform great tasks for the glory of the kingdom of God. Never say what you can’t do, because God will show you what He can. Never let others tell you what you can’t accomplish for God, because God will show them. He wants to use you. There is no excuse to have when we call into question the purpose God has for us. Do you want to know why God chose you to accomplish that seemingly impossible task? The answer is found in I Corinthians 1:29. He does not want you to take all the credit. The ability to fulfill is not because of you, but because of God in you and through you. That is the foundation of Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. We have failed or we will fail when we remove “through Christ”. The second significance of Bethlehem was the event could not be contained. The shepherds spread the news far and wide. They were filled with praise and rejoicing for what they had just witnessed. God in the flesh. When Christ comes into our heart, He must not be contained. With gladness and joy, we must make known the glorious news and testimony of what God has done within us, through us, and for us. In a nutshell, that is witnessing. You are serving as a witness to God, His power, His glory, His grace, His mercy, His provision, His presence, and the list goes on. That is a purpose God has for all of us. The element of witnessing is significant in the kingdom of God. What has God done for you? Share it. Let others know, but not just know, but see. O Little town of Bethlehem. Small. Quaint. Plain. Yet so significant in HIS story (history). The next time you sing that song, think about how significant you are as well in carrying out His plan. God takes the ordinary and works the extraordinary. Instead of saying I can’t, ask God what must I do. To others you may be insignificant, but to God you are significant.
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