“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel”. Matthew 2:6
Little Lucy isn’t really food aggressive, she just wants to make sure Big Burt doesn’t get anything first. If he does, she manages to distract him and take it away.
None of our dogs like carrots which I am told is a good thing for dogs to chew. Danni liked blueberries but Burt and Lucy leave them strewn over the dining room floor. When it comes to bread, each of our pups have their own opinion. Some will turn up their noses and walk away while others will sniff and try a small bite and a few inhale and it’s gone.
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, means House of Bread in Hebrew. It is fitting that Jesus was born in the House of Bread for he refers to himself as the Bread of Life in John 6:35. After he feeds over 5,000 people with two loaves of bread and two fish, he tells them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst”.
Jesus is also declaring that he is “I am” in John 6:35. God himself tells us he is “I AM WHO I AM” in Exodus 3:14 so Jesus is revealing that he is God. Just as manna came down from heaven to nourish the Israelites physically, God himself came down from heaven in the form of a baby, born in Bethlehem. He feeds us spiritually and sustains us each day as we feed on his word.
John 6:32-33 states, ” Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world”. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).
That first Christmas long ago, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Matthew 1:21 tells us, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins”. Mary did as she was told and gave birth to the Messiah.
The prophet Micah wrote in chapter 5, verse 2, “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 of old, from ancient times”. The little town of Bethlehem housed the King of Kings in a small stable one starry night long ago.
The Bread of Heaven was born in the House of Bread so that we who call upon his name might be saved. The Great I Am will sustain you now and always as you celebrate his birth as a baby this Christmas and everyday of the year.
Just Another Dog Devotion 