“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 NKJ)
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 NKJ)
In 1868, renowned
Episcopal pastor Phillip Brooks penned the words to “O Little Town of
Bethlehem.” He claimed this song came to him as he reflected on a
Christmas service he had attended in Bethlehem five years earlier. It deeply
moved Brooks who said, “At that service the whole church was bursting with
Christmas songs and music. I was moved to tears from the emotions of the
moment.”
Episcopal pastor Phillip Brooks penned the words to “O Little Town of
Bethlehem.” He claimed this song came to him as he reflected on a
Christmas service he had attended in Bethlehem five years earlier. It deeply
moved Brooks who said, “At that service the whole church was bursting with
Christmas songs and music. I was moved to tears from the emotions of the
moment.”
Brooks captured the
significance of God’s work in this now famous and loved Christmas carol. Note
the third stanza . . .
significance of God’s work in this now famous and loved Christmas carol. Note
the third stanza . . .
How
silently, how silently
silently, how silently
The
wondrous gift is given!
wondrous gift is given!
So
God imparts to human hearts
God imparts to human hearts
The
blessings of His heaven.
blessings of His heaven.
No
ear may hear His coming,
ear may hear His coming,
But
in this world of sin,
in this world of sin,
Where
meek souls will receive him still,
meek souls will receive him still,
The
dear Christ enters in.
dear Christ enters in.
The Prophet Micah
had already proclaimed that God’s Anointed One would come in a quiet manner
from an unexpected place. God always surprises his adversary with the
unexpected. This truth is still applicable to 21st century believers.
had already proclaimed that God’s Anointed One would come in a quiet manner
from an unexpected place. God always surprises his adversary with the
unexpected. This truth is still applicable to 21st century believers.
In our lives there
are thousands of small, insignificant sources of victory for God to choose. And
he doesn’t have to do some huge flamboyant thing full of fanfare and publicity.
Jesus wasn’t born in a king’s palace. His birth wasn’t proclaimed on the nightly
world news. Yet, he came and brought the victory of joy and peace to all
people.
are thousands of small, insignificant sources of victory for God to choose. And
he doesn’t have to do some huge flamboyant thing full of fanfare and publicity.
Jesus wasn’t born in a king’s palace. His birth wasn’t proclaimed on the nightly
world news. Yet, he came and brought the victory of joy and peace to all
people.
Our Savior — the
One to be Ruler in Israel — was born in a simple stable somewhere in the
little first century town called Bethlehem, with only Mary and Joseph as
witnesses. He is the One who exists from everlasting to everlasting and the
unexpected, insignificant, unidentified place of his birth does not, in any
manner, eliminate his identity nor his significance to mankind.
One to be Ruler in Israel — was born in a simple stable somewhere in the
little first century town called Bethlehem, with only Mary and Joseph as
witnesses. He is the One who exists from everlasting to everlasting and the
unexpected, insignificant, unidentified place of his birth does not, in any
manner, eliminate his identity nor his significance to mankind.
Dear Father, thank
you for imparting your wondrous gift to human hearts. May we meekly receive
Christ as Lord and Savior forevermore. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for imparting your wondrous gift to human hearts. May we meekly receive
Christ as Lord and Savior forevermore. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Today receive Christ
as your Lord and Savior,
as your Lord and Savior,