Matthew 2:6
When Jesus’ redemptive presence is a reality, what is considered to be small or insignificant becomes full of meaning, purpose, value and greatness. Bethlehem was originally a pagan city established by the Canaanites. They named the city after Lahama, their god of fertility, and had a temple built to this god that stood on the present mount of the Nativity. The worship of fertility gods produced a lot of…let’s say, not so good activity. Bethlehem eventually was a strategic city, militarily, and a fruitful place, agriculturally. From her humble and even filthy beginnings, this city became the place where Rachel, Jacob’s wife, was buried; Benjamin was born; King David was born; and ultimately Jesus was born. Over the years this city became great, but her crowning glory was the Redeemer of the world. When asked about Bethlehem of Judea, most of the world knows her as the place where Jesus was born.
Now about you; if Jesus’ redeeming presence is a reality in your life, you are a wellspring of meaning, purpose, value and greatness. God’s desire is that when people are asked about you, what they know best is that Jesus is born out in your life. You are to be known as a person who knows why you exist and you clearly live life out of that deep meaning and purpose. Your world is to be blessed because of Jesus as redeemer being expressed through you everyday, everywhere, to everyone your life touches. Pretty overwhelming, huh!? Don’t let the overwhelming nature of reality keep you from expressing the Jesus in you.
Do you understand the value that you hold having been created in God’s image? What clarity of meaning and purpose has been brought to your life as a result of Jesus’ presence?
“Jesus, thank you for blessing my life with your presence! Thank you for the clear meaning and purpose you restore to life through your redemptive activity. Help me to be a redemptive blessing to the world around me as you are expressed through my life.”
© Chuck Coward 2008
