But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. -Micah 5:2 NLT
I love that the Messiah was born in a small village. When I think about him being raised in Nazareth I think of the importance of family and community. God could have come as man but came as a baby who could grow experiencing interactions with both children and adults. Not all was good for Jesus though - because folks in his community knew him so well they were blinded to the idea that his origins were greater than their town. Because of this many could not see him as a messianic ruler. This familiarity is also a challenge to those who grow up in religious community.
... this devotion is part of an ongoing Advent series.
So true. It is so easy for us to become to familiar, or maybe better said, too comfortable with Jesus.
ReplyDelete"too comfortable with Jesus" -- I like that Fred!
ReplyDeleteSometime the closest to us, (family) are the hardest to reach. I like Fred's comment too.
ReplyDeleteSo true Wanda.
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