What Doug Flutie, King David, and Bethlehem All Have in Common...
It’s Christmas and sometimes big things come in small packages.
I was over to my oldest son’s house last night and we watched a special on Doug Flutie. From high school throughout his entire athletic career, he was told he was too small. He just wasn’t big enough to play quarterback. At Boston College, he started as a true freshman and after that never missed a game. He became the first college quarterback to pass for over 10,000 yards and is the centerpiece of one of college football's most-famous, improbable victories as time expired. He won the Heisman trophy in 1984, but despite his collegiate success he was thought to be too small to play beyond college. Flutie went on to play professional football for 22 years. He was called the best player to ever suit up in the Canadian Football League (CFL), and he had several winning seasons in the NFL as a starting QB in his late thirties. All the while, Flutie was still reminded he was too small to play quarterback. In the history of sports, Doug Flutie, the quarterback that was “too small”, is a very big deal.
Under my oldest brother’s senior picture were the words, “Small, but mighty”. This couldn’t have proved more true of him. At 17 years old he spent a month in the hospital, overcame a debilitating, possibly paralyzing, potentially deadly disease. He is now at 68 and after work when he is not refereeing, he is running. He would tell you His strength comes from the Lord. He isn’t big but he’s my big brother and he’s a big deal to the Lord.
Prior to becoming King David, David was just a small shepherd boy from Bethlehem. He was overlooked by the Hebrew people, King Saul and his army, and even his own family as the youngest son and smallest in stature. So much so, that when the prophet Samuel came to look for the Lord's chosen son of Jesse, David was left behind to watch the sheep, while the other 7 brothers came to Samuel for consideration. One chapter later, before the world's most legendary dual, David was actually sent by his father to deliver food to his brothers in Saul's army. God's had bigger plans. Much bigger plans, including defeating a 10 foot-tall giant, Goliath. Too small even to wear King Saul's armor, David was not taken seriously prior to this time. King David went on to become a legendary warrior, a globally renown king, and servant of the Lord.
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Why did God choose little Bethlehem? It was small, really small. Rachel, Jacob’s wife, was buried there. Naomi, the mother in law of Ruth (the great grandmother of King David), also was from there. King David was from Bethlehem, and apparently loved the water. So much son, that three of his best soldiers fought through enemy ranks, risking their lives just to bring him some. So humbled by their sacrifice, he refused to drink it. Other than these honorable mentions, Bethlehem was no big deal.
Then about 2000 years ago, a King was born there. His name was Jesus, He is The King of Kings, and The LORD of Glory. Since then, that teeny little town has become a very big deal. The prophet Micah was given this message from the LORD, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2, NIV).
“Jesus made a big impact on a few men. They changed the world. Sometimes, big things come in small packages. This is Discipleship. It is what I do, and what I teach.”
Some of you may think that you aren’t a big deal. You may think that what you do for the Lord or give to this ministry is not much. I want you to know that you are a big deal to me. More importantly, you are a big deal to God. King David was humbled by the loving gift of water from his friends. He didn’t know it then, but He would have a descendant come out of little Bethlehem that would affect the world in a Big Way. He would become our Living Water.
I am so blessed as I see God at work in the men I meet with here locally. I had a great time teaching pastors in Nicaragua in November. Presently, I’m preparing for another trip to Africa in January where I will once again have the privilege of teaching pastors there.
Jesus made a big impact on a few men. They changed the world. Sometimes, big things come in small packages. This is Discipleship. It is what I do, and what I teach. I do it because I believe it is still a big deal to Him. Thank you for helping me do it.
Merry Christmas!
Keith and Penny
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