Beyond the Cover
“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 5:2 NIV –
Have you ever misjudged something or someone? There’s an
expression “don’t judge a book by its cover.” It means not to assume a book is
good or bad based on whether or not you like the cover. A book certainly
is more than its cover. A book is full of words coming from the heart and/or mind of
the author. To assume a book is good or bad based on the cover alone would be
to miss out on all the book has to offer. We can do the same thing with people, places, or situations where we assume something based on what's on the "cover" but don't take the time to flip through the pages of the situation.
We know Bethlehem is the city in which Jesus was born. As
the prophet Micah states, Bethlehem was a small town. Not much was expected
from Bethlehem. It was just another city. However, from Bethlehem came Jesus, the Messiah that the Jews had been waiting for. Now Bethlehem is known by
nearly anyone that knows about Christianity as the birth place of Christ. Talk
about not judging a book its cover!
As you celebrate Christmas this week, remember that things
aren’t always what they seem. A relative who you dislike could prove to be
interesting or different than you expected. A gift that seems strange at first
could tell you something special about the giver. Look beyond “the cover” of
the interactions you have over your Christmas break. Look for the unexpected or
surprisingly uplifting things as you flip through the page of this Christmas
season.
To Read More: Micah 5:2-5 and Luke 2:1-20
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