15 August | Teens
«“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”» Micah 5: 2
Pretty much everyone eats bread. Whether it's toast, pita bread, or whole wheat bread, bread is an essential item on our tables. Curiously, today's text takes us to a city whose name has a very special meaning and is directly related to this food that is so common in our daily lives: Bethlehem, which in Hebrew means “house of bread.”
Bethlehem is more than just a city mentioned in the Bible; it is the city chosen and prophesied to be the birthplace of Jesus. Despite his humble beginnings and the modest size of Bethlehem, from there would arise the Savior, promised from ancient times, from the days of eternity. This fact alone teaches us a valuable lesson about the importance of looking beyond appearances and recognizing that great things can come from the most unexpected places.
Bethlehem, the “house of bread,” connects us with the One who would later be described as the “Bread of Life”: Jesus! He came into the world to feed us spiritually, offering everything we need for a full and meaningful life alongside God. God chose a small, modest place to bring the greatest gift of all into the world, teaching us to value the little things and find greatness in humility.
Take Action
To remember this important message, why not try baking bread at home with your family? As you knead and bake the bread, talk about how Jesus is the “Bread of Life” and what that means for each of you.