But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. – Micah 5:2
Given the sheer volume of Old Testament prophecy that points to His existence, it is difficult to understand why more Jews have not accepted Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. Of course, to accept the Messiah as Savior one must do so by faith and to come by faith is to reject works (keeping the Law), their great stumbling block. Then again, the thought of the Messiah coming from a place of insignificance was also beyond comprehension. Surely, He would be born in Jerusalem!
There have been times in my ministry when I have wondered if a difference was truly being made through my meager efforts and if lives were truly being changed for the glory of God. In the broad scope of God’s Kingdom work, was the seemingly small contribution we were making, significant? Yet, all we need to do is look to Bethlehem for the answer. She was the most insignificant of all the Judean villages, yet into her was born the Savior of the world.
If we commit ourselves to spreading the gospel, some will accept the message, but many will not. Of course, we may not see a “great” work of God where we are, but our faithfulness may result in the one coming to Christ who will make a significant difference in the lives of others.
The key to an effective, life-altering ministry is not in “making a big splash,” but rather in gently and consistently disturbing the waters, one pebble at a time.
Each life creates endless ripples. – Frank Herbert
