DESPISE NOT SMALL THINGS Devotion 22 of 24 The birth of our Lord was another "small beginning." He was born in the "city of David," but not during the splendor of David's kingdom! Nor, indeed, was He born in Jerusalem, "the city of the great King" (Matt 5:35). – Tomorrow:
"Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth." Zechariah 4:8-10, NKJV
Micah spoke of the place of Christ's birth with an emphasis on its insignificance among men. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Mic 5:2). Indeed, a "small beginning." But Jesus did not remain associated with smallness. He has now been exalted "far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come" (Eph 1:21).
JESUS' DISCIPLES
And what of the lowly beginning of Jesus' disciples! He chose a nucleus of only twelve. The Holy Spirit provides their names. "The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him" (Matt 10:2-4). Ultimately, Judas was replaced with Matthias, according to Divine revelation (Acts 1:23-26). Later, Paul was added as "the Apostle to the Gentiles" (Rom 11:13).
Was this not a "small beginning"? And yet, they did not remain small! Church history records the remarkable extent of the ministries of these thirteen men. All were martyred with the exception of John the beloved. I have added the modern equivalents of the names of the ancient nations they impacted. This is not a complete list. However, it does introduce us to the marvelous impact these men, while yet alive, had upon the world.
1. Simon Peter – Britain, Gaul (France and Germany), Rome
2. Andrew – Armenia (Turkey, Russia), Scythia (Central Asia), Asia Minor
3. James – Martyred early after impacting Jerusalem
4. John – Asia (Including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Arabia, Egypt, Bangladesh, India, China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Mongolia
5. Philip – Britain, Greece
6. Bartholomew – Armenia (Turkey, Russia), India, Africa
7. Thomas – Babylon, Persia, India
8. Matthew – Persia, Ethiopia, Greece
9. James the son of Alphaeus – Jerusalem, Spain,
10. Lebbaeus – Armenia (Turkey, Russia)
11. Simon the Canaanite – Armenia (Turkey, Russia), Britain, Egypt, Cyrene, Africa, Lybia
12. Matthias – Armenia (Turkey, Russia)
13. Paul – Britain, Greece, Asia, Italy, Spain
Let no man despise the day of "small beginning!" Taking the nature of Daniel's stone, that was taken out of a mountain "without hands," these chosen men impacted a world for Christ. Political empires and bastions of erroneous thought have fallen in their wake. The truth they proclaimed shook Satan's empire to its foundation, discovering its weaknesses, and delivering a devastating blow to its domain.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You in Jesus Christ for a Gospel that makes those who bear it significant, and often, well known.