Small Christmas: Small People

It’s unfortunate that our world is captivated by the big. I’m pretty sure God isn’t. Christmas is a story of God doing big things through small people. I think there are lots of people who think God only uses big folks: those with big personalities, with big gifts, and big pocketbooks.  As I read scripture I see a different pattern emerging: that God uses small people who trust in a big God. God uses small people because their smallness demonstrates His power. Some of the first people who were invited in to this story were small; they were shepherds. Obviously, most of us aren’t shepherds. We don’t have sheep grazing on our front lawns.  We’re not depending on them for our livelihood. Most importantly: we don’t live in the first century. Most of us are keenly unaware of how small shepherds were. God invited a group of small shepherds into His story. Watch this: the second chapter of the gospel of Luke tells the story of Heaven’s interaction with these shepherds.  They’re minding their own business and looking after their sheep when … all Heaven busts loose in front of them, in front of a bunch of small shepherds! Angels form a choir and sing.  One angel actually converses with them.  This story is so familiar it has lost it’s luster for most of us.  Heaven comes to a bunch of small shepherds. And what happens as Heaven intersects with these shepherds? God invites them into His story. The angel tells the shepherds, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (v.11-12) You will find a baby … WHAT? The first people invited to the party were a group of small shepherds! The shepherds responded, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” (v.15) Small people respond with simple obedience. How does it all end? It ends with these small shepherds invited into the party.  They’re the first outsiders in on the secret: that this baby boy, Jesus, is the Christ! God invited them into His story, gave them His message, and them gave them an audience to share it with. I think God is still using small people.  He is still inviting them into His story, giving them His message, and giving them an audience to share it with. So, what’s keeping you from embracing your smallness and following big God this Christmas?

#christmas #smallchristmas