God Can Fill Only That Which Is Empty!

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie...
The hopes and fears of all the years,
Are met in thee tonight.

“...You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.” (Micah 5:1-4a)

Bethlehem-Ephrathah was the family home of the Ephra clan, a small sub-clan of the tribe of Judah. It’s principle claim to fame was the fact that it was the birthplace of King David. Bethlehem was small, insignificant.... a mere rest stop for camel caravans. Bethlehem was “nowheresville.” The “Entering Bethlehem” and the “Leaving Bethlehem” signs were on the same post.

Bethlehem’s insignificance...its smallness, however are the very qualities that make Bethlehem useful to God. Because it was “nowheresville”.... because it was empty, the prophet Micah saw that Bethlehem was the perfect place for God to fill.

Because God can only fill that which is empty.

Michah prophesizes:

“...You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.”

This same idea of God filling emptiness is found in the Gospel of this Fourth Sunday of Advent, where two women are presented to us: Elizabeth and Mary. Both women, now with child, had been empty: Elizabeth because she was sterile, and Mary because she was a virgin.

God fills their emptiness. He fills them with life, because God can only fill that which is empty.

Luke's Gospel tells us:

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant
[which now filled her womb] lept for joy,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you [Mary] among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.””

Advent Season, which will soon come to an end, is a time to touch our emptiness:
---Are we mourning the loss of a loved one? The loss of a job? Perhaps a lost opportunity?
---Are we grieving about what might have been, what should have been or what could have been?

Don't be afraid... touch your emptiness. Remember, God can fill only that which is empty!

Secondly, the Advent Season is the time to “empty your fullness”. That’s right. You have to “empty your fullness.” God can’t fill you with his grace and his love, with his peace and his joy, if you’re already full of “other stuff.”

So what are you full of? Don’t know? Ask your spouse...ask your friends. If they won’t tell you, ask your enemies.
---Are you full of yourself?
---Full of distractions? (shopping, working, partying, football,....)

Whatever it is your full of, you need to get rid of it. Because God can only fill that which is empty.

The inns of Bethlehem were filled when Joseph and Mary came knocking. Jesus couldn’t enter in because they were full. But a cave for animals was empty, so Jesus filled it with his presence.

Let us empty ourselves during these last remaining hours of Advent and make room for Jesus to enter us and fill us with his joy...his peace... his fullness...

“You, Bethlehem-Ephratha, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, his God.... his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace.” (Micah 5:1-4a)

Bethlehem was nowhere....was empty before Christ filled it. You and I are nothing.... empty until Christ fills us.

May the Christ fill you this Christmas!