1 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;
   siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike the judge of Israel
   on the cheek.
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
 who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
   one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
   from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
   when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
   to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
   in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
   to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace.

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“What can I do?  It’s just me.  There’s only one of me.  I’m not strong.  I don’t have any real power to speak of.  People don’t notice me when I’m in a public place, except maybe for a passing glance.  I’m just a regular person—nothing special here.”

Does that sound familiar?  Do you say such things about yourself, either out loud or to yourself?  If so, today’s passage has something to say to you.

Bethlehem was a small town, with not much to say for itself.  According to Micah, it was too little to be counted as important.  No elaborate buildings, no famous citizens.  Just a regular, small town.

In reality, it turns out that this small, unimportant town was so much more than anyone thought.  The town with no elaborate buildings actually contained a very important building, even if it was just a barn.  The town with no famous citizens became the birthplace of the One who would be great to the ends of the earth.  The reality was much bigger than people realized.

That’s true in our lives as well.  We may seem small, even unimportant.  But, just as Jesus changed His hometown, He changes us.

Let this message find meaning in your life this Advent.  Remember that your life is important and valuable, because Jesus has come into you.  Your life has meaning.  You have purpose.  You matter.

Today, think of yourself as Bethlehem.