For When You Feel Small

This Song has been bringing me to tears this season.  And while I knew I loved it, I couldn't quite articulate what it was about it that was so marvelous to me.  Then, this morning in my advent reading I was directed to Luke 7:24-30 and verse 28 shouted it to me.

Luke 7:24-30
²⁴ When John's messengers had gone, Jesus^[a] began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. ²⁶ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” ²⁹ (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just,^[b] having been baptized with the baptism of John, ³⁰ but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.) 

  You see, I'm sort of prone to see simile everywhere - even places it wasn't meant to be.  So often, as I have taught dance, physical truths have represented spiritual truths which I needed to see physically displayed in order to understand.  This has given me great joy and has been a blessing, but I have to be careful as I'm approaching God's Word that I don't turn the simile the wrong way -- God's truth turned  to picture something smaller (who want's that?!).   So the comment in the song about David's town and God's promise to keep hit me as a picture of God's faithfulness to little, unlikely me.  But, because I know God didn't chose Bethlehem because of me, I rejected the thought as sentimental.  Then I read verse 28 of Luke 7.  The least.  The smallest.  The least likely.  That is me!  God made a promise to little me, fulfilled in Christ- not because of my greatness or worthiness, but because of His steadfast love.  This is the mystery.  This is the picture.  Greatness of God born as a baby, "that we could hold God in our hands" as the song says.
  So in those seasons when you feel small, insignificant, or not enough- rejoice!  You are greater in God's kingdom than the greatest prophet.  It is the humble and lowly that God comes to and makes his home with.  It is the small that He chooses to make His name great.  And wait for the coming of His promise with joyful anticipation; God always keeps His promises.