December 4, 2024 Devo

One of the things I’ve noticed about God is how He loves to use small things to make big differences. Our passage today talks about one of those—the city of Bethlehem. Bethlehem wasn’t a huge cultural center. It wasn’t where the palace was or an international trade center where you would expect the Messiah to burst onto the scene. But this tiny town became the birthplace of Christ. And Bethlehem became forever embedded in the annals of history.
I love how God does that. Shepherds become kings. Fishermen become the pillars upon which Christ builds the Church. A bush on a mountain becomes the podium of God’s calling to Moses. A kid whose name we don’t even know becomes the lunch provider for over 5,000 people. A manger becomes a throne. And a baby becomes the King of the Universe. Little things. Huge impact. That’s how God works.
Spend a few moments with that thought today. Don’t let yourself off the hook quite so quickly about your life not mattering or your little part not really being much of a contribution. The morning I wrote this, when I got to the office, there were several women scurrying about putting up Christmas decorations around the church. Most of them would probably tell you that they really didn’t do much. But I guarantee you that people will be blessed this Sunday as they come and see the difference they made.
Your little life matters. Your little gifts matter. Your little expressions of kindness matter. Do you want to be another “Bethlehem” this Christmas season? Go visit a shut-in. Give some $5 gift cards to a few people you’re grateful for but have never thanked. Make some cookies for a neighbor. Send a card with a prayer to a friend who has lost someone this past year. These “little” gifts aren’t really little at all. They are the seeds that God uses to grow and do some beautiful stuff. You don’t have to “wow” anyone this Christmas season. You just have to be a Bethlehem. Because great things sometimes come in small packages. That’s God’s Word for you today.