Greatness Comes In Smallness: Third Tuesday of Advent

"It seems, then", said Tirian..."that the Stable seen from within and the Stable seen from without are two different places."
"Yes," said the Lord Digory. "Its inside is bigger than its outside."
"Yes," said Queen Lucy. "In our world too, a Stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world."
~ C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle, p141

You've heard this phrase, Never judge a stable by its manger. No? Maybe you've heard the more popular version: Never judge a gift by its size. Or this one: Never judge a book by its cover. Whichever one of these you are familiar with, you get the point - outward appearances can't reveal everything. Sometimes a small object is the source of great influence.

In our culture today there is a developing stream of thought that revolves around this idea: small is the new big. As we get more cynical towards bigger governments, more powerful global corporations, towards athletes and CEO's with million dollar salaries, we get more disgusted with big. There is a movement towards people building small houses, driving small cars, eating smaller portions of food, wanting to get their kids in smaller schools.

We are still attracted to big, but we are also realizing the power of small. We are interested in worshipping the God of the Universe, but we are coming to understand the impact of his becoming one of us as an infant. Big and gigantic and enormous and huge can be too much for one people, or even a community. Small can be relatable, personal, appreciated, connected to, more easily enjoyed. Greatness comes in smallness.

For God to be born in an old small stable reminds us of how God works. Greatness comes in smallness. A cow-stall was chosen over a palace. The little town of Bethlehem was chosen over the strong-walled city of Jerusalem. Young Mary of Nazareth was chosen over the ruling elite of Judea. An embryo was the starting place for salvation of a people. Greatness comes in smallness.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Micah 5v2 (NIV)

When you let Jesus into your life, it can seem like a small decision. It can be laced with doubt and uncertainty. But faith as small as a mustard seed carries within it great potential. The Jesus that you accept as your Lord and Saviour is initially a small King. How can you realize how mighty and powerful and glorious is Jesus when you first let him into your life? Jesus comes to you small.

This Christmas, don't get caught up in the trap of bigger and better, flashier and fancier, overindulgence and blown-budgets. Don't fool yourself into thinking that this is what Christmas is all about, that this is the best way to express love. Great love comes in small gifts. Greatness comes in smallness.

Our great God initiated Christmas in a barn - one that seemed small on the outside but big on the inside. Let this Christmas be the one where God initiates a change in your heart - it may stay small on the outside, but it becomes great huge bigger on the inside. Greatness comes in smallness.