12/14/14- God and the Small

Dec. 14, 2014 – WEEK 3- Dr. Richard Burnett is writing this week’s devotionals Concentrating on Luke.

Scripture: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.  This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria.  And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.  And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (Luke 2:1-7).

Thoughts: Are you not struck by the smallness of it all?  Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem were very small, insignificant towns in the wider context of the Roman Empire and the census decreed by Caesar Augustus.  Mary, Joseph, and the babe wrapped in “swaddling clothes” also appear rather small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.  Why did God choose to reveal himself in such small, insignificant, and humble circumstances?  C.S. Lewis claims: “Proud man would have died had not such a lowly God come to him.”  Augustine wrote: “Because man fell through pride, He [God] applied humility as a cure.  We were trapped by the wisdom of the serpent; we are freed by the foolishness of God” (On Christian Doctrine I, xiv, 15).  God uses the small, humble, seemingly insignificant and even foolish things to confound the wisdom of the wise in this world and bring about His redemption.  Does he not continue to do so?  And should we not be watchful and ready to participate in such work among such circumstances?

Prayer: O God our Father, help us to believe that you work in the small, humble, and seemingly insignificant circumstances of life to bring about our redemption.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Application: Take some time think about the small, humble, and seemingly insignificant circumstances of life God has used to teach you about himself and to bring about your redemption and the redemption of those you love.

Today's (and this week's) devotion was written by Dr. Richard Burnett, Interim Associate Pastor at Lake Murray Presbyterian and Professor at Erskine Theological Seminary