Humble

DEVOTION

PROPHESIS AND FULFILLMENTS CONCERNING CHRIST

HUMBLE

Mic 5:2-5

2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.   5 And he will be their peace.

NIV

Humble beginnings for such an everlasting King of kings, Lord of lords, Ruler of rulers. Born in a stable yet brings greatness to the ends of the earth. How insignificant was this little town called Bethlehem, it was just a suburb of Jerusalem. The best guesses are the population may have been around two to three hundred people. There are archeologists who have pieced information to arrive at this estimated number. No matter the population, it was a small unimportant town in the grand scheme of Israel. Because we know they had inns, although no rooms were available when Joseph and Mary arrived for the census. Inns would indicate travelers, most likely ones on the way or coming home from being in Jerusalem. Yet here we are in Bethlehem when it is time for Jesus to enter the world as a human infant. This was spoken of somewhere about seven hundred plus years before the birth of Jesus. Matthew records the fulfillment of this prophesy of Micah.

Matt 2:1-6

2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

NIV

What do we learn that benefits our lives, our spiritual growth? There is no question that Jesus is God. We absolutely believe in the triune God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Any other belief would simply be heresy, as far as we are concerned. We know from other scriptures that Jesus was the creator of all things, nothing was created that he did not create.

John 1:1-5

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

NIV

We sing songs about the majestic name of Jesus, God. We consider his name above all names. There is no one like God. Yet here he is coming to earth in a human form, a defenseless infant at that. Could the Father or the Spirit strike death upon anyone who dare try to inflict any harm on this infant Jesus? Absolutely, but they did not. Jesus was allowed to be an infant who needed all the love and care of a mother; and the protection and provision of a father. Jesus could have shown up as the King of Kings in all his glory. But no, a humble beginning and he lived a humble life, up to and including his death. Although he had all authority, he submitted himself to his parents and to his Father. There were moments when he stepped up to protect his house, the temple of God. But mainly he lived as a simple man, serving the Father. Here we are, learning this lesson. Pride is not the way of Jesus. Authority with humility somehow worked for him. We might have some authority in an earthly sense, but we must not wheel that authority as if we are an almighty power. Husbands have been given authority over their families, but only because God holds them accountable for their families. Many men may not live up to the accountability portion, but still want the authority. This should not be. If Jesus lived a humble life, although having all authority, we too should live a humble live, no matter how much authority we have been given. This would apply in our families, in our work place, in our church community or our social community. Yet at the same time we ought to also know we are in Christ. God regards his creation as something very special. So special he came to earth as a human infant to grow and experience all we experience, to live among us, being one of us. That seems almost unconceivable God would need to live as a human to experience what humans feel, yet we are told he did. He experienced all that is common to man, yet was without sin. God in the flesh living humbly. This is our que, live humbly before God which would then include before man. We started with words from Micah and we end with his words.

Mic 6:8

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

NIV