We are in the throes of the Christmas season. We have made our lists and checked them twice, and now comes the hard part: what can I buy my wife for Christmas? And the even bigger question: what size?! Years ago I used to carry around in my wallet a little piece of paper with sizes for everyone in the family written down. Ring sizes, shoe sizes, dress sizes, sweater sizes, hat sizes, sock sizes, belt sizes: you name it and I probably had a size for it. Then I discovered the sweetest and most life-saving sign in the department stores: “one size fits all!!”
There is a one-size-fits-all mentality to nearly everything on the market today. I’ve seen advertisements for “OSFA” belts, sweatshirts, camping gear, baseball caps, bar-b-cue grills, racing gloves, foot pillows, sunglasses, hiking gear, scuba gear, cat collars and even OSFA resumes for those who are job hunting. But most of us will agree that one size doesn’t fit all! All of us have different sizes and shapes and that’s what makes us unique, special, adorable, awesome.
But when it comes to our spiritual life, one size does fit all. What we want to focus on tonight is the size of Christmas. Yes, it is a huge event each year according to the retailers, and it is a huge event when it is seen in context of redemption’s story. After all, it is a big deal that God came from His throne in heaven and took on the form of a man in order to redeem fallen man; it is a big deal that this Baby was destined to be the Savior of mankind; it is a big deal that God pierced the darkness of this world and brought light, life and hope to the world. But consider for a moment that at Christmas time the one size that fits all is SMALL.
In Micah 5:2 we find a very familiar verse that accompanies the birth of Christ. The prophet Micah foretold that the Messiah would be born in a small town: Bethlehem. This town was so insignificant and unimportant that it needed the extra name, Ephratha, to explain where it was. God doesn’t always use the biggest and the flashiest. He chooses to use small, seemingly insignificant towns to grow up leaders and witnesses for Him.
We are also told in this verse about the virgin who would bear God’s Son. Mary and Joseph were not royalty; they weren’t wealthy; they weren’t influential; they weren’t from the upper crust or among the movers-and-shakers. They were simple, ordinary humble people who yielded themselves to the God of glory in order to accomplish His divine purposes. Humility marked them as distinguished servants. Their egos weren’t big; their agenda wasn’t a priority; their rank wasn’t important. In the eyes of the world these were small people. But God sometimes uses small people to accomplish His greatest works.
A final important fact in Micah’s prophecy was that it told of the birth of a small Child. Yes, this was an extraordinary Child. He would be the Promised One, the Messiah, the Savior of mankind. God chose to come and dwell among us as a Child. He was small, meek, trusting, dependent, obedient and loving. He could have come full-grown. But bearing the likeness of a child He demonstrated for us the faith that is required as we come to Him for salvation: a faith that trusts in His provision rather than our own independence.
As you celebrate Christmas this year, remember One Size Fits All. Your town may seem insignificant, but as you hold out the light of the Gospel of Christ it becomes a beacon of great importance. You may think you are unimportant in the scheme of God’s redemptive plan for man. But every believer has a story to tell. So tell your story and show others the way to the manger. Always point them toward that one small Child who came to redeem them. For, in reality, sin has a “one size fits all” clause, too! As believers, we have the joyous privilege of bearing the Good News to those who need to hear it. That’s why we’re here….
That You May Know
1 John 5:13
That You May Know Ministries 