Little Town of Bethlehem: Matthew 11:25-30

Photo by Sameeh Karram on Pexels

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

Philip Brooks wrote a song that pictures a sleepy little village in the dead of night where no light pollution from streetlamps and neon signs breaks the darkness. Only the moon and stars shine. And somewhere in that little average village, not unlike villages all around the world, there was a little building where a young couple welcomed a brand new baby, unknown to all the rest of the slumbering villagers. Peaceful. Quiet. Simple. 

How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of His heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive Him still,
the dear Christ enters in.

As God gave the Savior to the world, in a quiet little town, with fanfare only for shepherds to hear, so God visits each and every heart. Your heart is a Bethlehem. The Savior is not heralded into your heart by the great celebration of your effort and goodness and acclaim. Your best works do not roll out the red carpet to him. Our best, richest, or loudest people do not summon him down to themselves or bestow them upon you. Instead, with the simplicity of a meek, humble, repentant heart, a simple and average person can welcome him in to a heart and life no more glamorous than that Bethlehem manger.

Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children... Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:25–30 ESV).