Small Town

      We are reminded at every Christmas season of the place where Jesus was born.  It was, of course, in Bethlehem.  It was foretold by the prophet Micah.  Micah 5:2 says, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."  
     What is significant about this fact is that Bethlehem was not a very big place.  As the verse says, it was "little among the thousands of Judah."  In fact, Judah didn't even consider it worthwhile to count.  It was located some six miles from Jerusalem.  People thought that the Messiah would have been born in the capitol but that was not to be.  Instead, God chose an insignificant, little town called Bethlehem.  Even King Herod didn't realize that The King of the Jews was being born in the very shadow of one of his huge fortresses called the Herodian located just East of Bethlehem.  What is significant today for us is the reminded that God often chooses the insignificant to accomplish His purpose in this world.  He chose Bethlehem instead of Jerusalem.  God today looks for vessels that are willing to be used in His service.  Sometimes, people are fearful that God will put them into some service where they won't be able to do it or they won't be too happy doing it.  That, however, isn't the case.  When God puts you into His service you suddenly realize that it is the happiest place to be.  It's always best to be in the center of God's will for your life.  Secondly, you also find out that not only does He put you into His service, He also gives you the skills to accomplish what He has for you to do.  God, throughout history, has used people like fishermen, a tax collector, shepherds and farmers to accomplish His purposes.  They never intended to be great but God made them that way through His power and not of anything of their own making.  Has God challenged you to do something for Him?  All you really need to do is to be willing and to submit to His leadership.  So, just as the announcement was made to shepherds, the place of His birth is likewise, not what you would have expected.  That should give us hope as we see God working in the lives of people even today.  Praise Him today for what He is doing in your life and what He will do in the days to come.