Scripture text for Wednesday, March 17th, 2010: Luke 2:1-2:40
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How often do you think what you do is insignificant because it doesn’t seem to catch anyone’s attention? You work at your job or at home with your children, often with little appreciation or recognition. While we hope our roles in God’s kingdom are important, they aren’t usually high-profile and often seem somewhat inconsequential in the world’s eyes. Luke’s portrayal of Jesus’ birth makes it clear that what may seem to be the most insignificant events can actually be incredibly significant. Luke 2:6 says “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son”. If this was all that you were to read, you would have no idea this was the birth of Christ, the Savior of the world! Jesus wasn’t born in a hospital or even a home, but a stable–a dark and dirty hovel, possibly even a cave. He wasn’t placed in a warm crib with a fancy quilt, but in a manger (a feeding trough for the animals in the stable). The cloths he was wrapped in weren’t royal robes made of silk, but were likely dirty scraps left in the stable. Despite his humble beginnings, Jesus was born as the only hope for mankind’s salvation.
It is interesting that the world equates value and significance with possessions, riches, and popularity. Fortunately, God values what we’ve stored in our hearts, not what we’ve stored in our homes or our bank accounts. The little things that seem trivial may actually be an opportunity for you to have an eternal impact for God’s kingdom. Offering a word of encouragement to a co-worker, preparing a meal for family and friends, or praying for a neighbor in need are all simple, seemingly insignificant, acts. God will use whatever you wholeheartedly offer, no matter how simple or insignificant it may seem to the world.
Devotion prepared by Scott Blanchard