A Night of Exhortation and Grace


Photo by Agê Barros on Unsplash

I want to share this the same way I spoke that night.

I was asked if I could exhort during the second night of our Simbang Gabi. I only managed to confirm around 3 PM. That left about four hours before the exhortation, but those hours were not spent studying. I was still out in the city, far from home, with no time or space to prepare.

We arrived home around 6:20 PM. I had a few minutes to gather my thoughts. By 6:30 PM, we were already on our way to the congregation. Between 7:10 and 7:30 PM, I stood in front of about twenty to thirty people and shared the Word.

The main verse given to me was Micah 5:2 (Ang Pagsilang ng Pag-asa sa Ating Bayan)

“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.”

I Want to Be Honest

I have not read the whole book of Micah, and I had never read Micah 5:2 until that very day. I knew there was a larger prophetic context behind it, and many directions I could explore. But with the time I had, I chose not to force what I could not faithfully explain.

To be even more transparent, I had only attended Simbang Gabi once or twice before, and even then, I didn’t fully understand why I had to be there. Not because I did not want to, but honestly, I did not fully understand why I had to. 

I have shared the Word before—during a dawn watch and while exhorting during tithes and offerings—but this was my first time sharing as an exhorter for Simbang Gabi. It felt different, unfamiliar, and yet, in the middle of uncertainty, I knew I had to say yes.

Even as we celebrate Jesus’ birth, for me, it feels like this is something I live every day. Meditating on the Word, reflecting on His presence, trying to let His hope guide daily life—that is my daily celebration. Sometimes it feels like in the excitement of Simbang Gabi or other gatherings, the focus is on being present at the event, on the rituals, and the joy of the occasion. While those are good, I hope that every Simbang Gabi, every celebration of our Lord, speaks more into our daily lives than just marking a date on the calendar.

For me, celebrating Jesus is not just about one night or one season. It is about letting His birth, His presence, and His hope touch every ordinary day. And with the few minutes I had to prepare, I tried to share that hope—Bethlehem, birth, and Jesus Himself—with everyone present that evening.

Pagsilang

Micah 5:2 points us to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

And birth always speaks of beginning.

That night, I reminded everyone that when Jesus was born, salvation entered the world. And when we receive Jesus, something is also born in us. A new beginning. A renewed heart.

Every time the Word of God is heard, even briefly, a seed is planted. We may not see immediate change, but hope begins quietly. That is why sharing the Word matters. Because every Word carries life.

Pag-asa

Bethlehem was small. It was not impressive or influential. Yet from that place came the Savior.

This tells us something important. We should never underestimate anyone, including ourselves. Hope does not depend on size, status, or confidence. Hope comes from God.

Jesus is our hope. Not because of where we come from, but because of who He is. As the verse says, it was the Lord who spoke. The message came from God. And that message is Jesus Himself.

When we accept Him, hope is no longer something we try to produce on our own. It is something we receive.

Bayan

Israel was known as the chosen nation of God. But through Christ, we are now included. We become sons and daughters of God. We belong to His flock. We live under His Lordship.

That night, I reminded everyone that belonging also comes with care for one another. If we notice someone drifting away, we do not reject them. We invite them back. The Kingdom of God remains open. There is always room to return.

Closing Reflection

That night taught me something.

I did not stand there because I was fully prepared. I stood there because I was willing to speak from what I had and to keep pointing back to Jesus.

Sometimes we think we need to know everything before we can share anything. But there are moments when God simply asks us to be faithful with what is in front of us.

That evening, Bethlehem was enough.
Birth was enough.
Hope was enough.

This reflection feels unfinished, and I believe that is okay.
The book of Micah invites me to return, and perhaps I will write about it again when I have more time to reflect.

For now, I am grateful.
Grateful for the opportunity.
Grateful for the courage to say yes.
And grateful that even with limited time, Christ remains sufficient.


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Did Jesus Really Turn the Water into Wine?

An Urgent Call: Repent and Turn Back to God

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All glory to God.

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