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