Advent Series: The Proclamation

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” — Micah 5:2, NKJV

The proclamation has been spoken. Now we wait — wait for the fulfillment of the word.

No one knew precisely how long it would be, but the assurance of what was to come was embedded with faith in the One who ordered the decree.

A Ruler was to come. A new King was to take the throne.

But how could this be for the pedigree of this King wasn’t of the norm?

Fast forward a few years and look at the lineage of this King, you will find that there’s a prostitute, a deceiver, an adulterer and murderer, and an idol worshipper in His bloodline, all of which are not the ingredients for the making of a king.

Even though Bethlehem Ephrathah was small in numbers, it did not disqualify the city from producing greatness. You see, sometimes greatness comes from the smallest of beginnings. That’s why we are told by the Prophet Zachariah not to despise small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” (Zachariah 4:10)

The Lesson:

We can’t look down on where we come from or how minute things may appear as long as we’re working the plan the Father has laid out for us.

The Reflections:

• What great thing is lying in wait on the inside of you?
• What plan was set into motion, over your life, before the beginning of time?
• What sphere of influence has God entrusted to you?

The Inspiration:

It doesn’t matter where you come from; it matters most where you’re going.

“It matters where you come from, but it doesn’t matter where you come from.” — Dr. Matthew Stevenson, III

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:13–14

Join me next week for more Coffee on The Couch