The inn keepers missed IT. The weary travelers missed IT. Who could blame them. After all, both groups were very busy. The inn keepers had people to take care of, animals to feed, bread to make, etc. The guests had appointments to be kept, taxes to be paid, things to be done. Yes, I'm afraid both groups missed IT - they missed the birth of Christ.
But the shepherds...well, they did'nt miss IT at all. They got all Christmas had to offer. They got the angels. They got the glory of God. They got Jesus.
Luke 2:15 tells us that after the angels went back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger."
Did you get that? Did you ever notice that the shepherds didn't simply praise God out in the field for the birth of His Son? They didn't consider themselves to be too busy to worship. Nope. Instead, they "made haste" to go see this thing the angel had proclaimed to them.
The shepherds got it. They got the wonder and amazement, the miraculous and the importance of Christmas. They might not have understood every implication of this event, but they still celebrated it just the same.
It's often my prayer this time of year, "Lord, don't let me miss Christmas. Don't let me miss Your birthday. Let me celebrate it the way You want it to be celebrated. Let it be about You and not about me!"
This Christmas, let's make haste to see Jesus, so we don't miss IT. Let's not allow the having (or not having) the perfect presents, the perfect family and the perfect emotional state of mind to keep us from missing Jesus. Let's not stay out in the field of busyness and miss celebrating the birth of the King. Let's instead, make haste to Jesus...make haste.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Let There Be Light!
Living in a "holler" in south MS was great fun, but it sure did get dark...when it got dark. There were very few lights and if no stars were out, you could barely see your hand in front of your face. I didn't like the dark that much. It was too scary...too uncertain...you didn't know what was lurking just around the corner of the porch, much less just beyond the cars parked in the back yard. Darkness at my house growing up was, for lack of a better term, dark. And guess what??? It still is!
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about that...about darkness, and I've come to the realization that life would be miserable without a respite from it. You see, it's Christmas, and at Christmastime, lights are everywhere...on trees, on roofs, on plastic reindeer in the front yard. They're draped over bushes and hung gingerly across porch fronts. That's because lights are an important part of Christmas-time, and it just wouldn't be the same without them. Can you imagine a Christmas without lights? How about LIFE without lights?
There was a time when life on earth did exist without light. No, I don't mean that everyone's electricity went out at the same time. I'm not talking about electricity at all. I'm talking about life without Jesus.
Before Christ was born, it had been over four hundred years since the Israelites had heard ANYTHING from God. He'd not spoken through prophets, through miracles, or even through His priests. To them, the silence of God must have been deafening. I'm sure the Israelites began to wonder whether or not He really existed. I'm sure those that did continue to believe in the old traditions, thought maybe God was still angry with them for their disobedience. I'm sure some were saddened, thinking He'd forgotten them. Can you imagine...life with no hope, nothing but darkness for your future...knowing that nothing would ever get any better? Life in total darkness - talk about scary.
But then God, in the mist of total darkness said, "Let there be Light," and Jesus was born. He'd uttered those words before at the very beginning of time, but this time, the Light was of a different nature. Not only did this Light illuminate, this Light saved. This Light brought eternal hope. This Light broke the darkness of the separation between God and man. This Light came and changed the future of mankind...forever. Jesus, the Light of the world, dispelled darkness and invited light into the lives of the Israelites and us today.
Several years ago, God spoke into my heart those same words. With a big smile on His face, the Father said, "Let there be Light," and there was Light. The darkness and sin that had long held me in fear was dispelled. I now have Light in my soul. Do you? If not, know that Jesus loves you. Know that He didn't come to this earth to condemn you, but to make you right with God. Accept the gift He wants to give you this Christmas. Accept His Light.
Father, I pray for those who need you now. I pray that You will open the eyes of their hearts that they may have a full knowledge of You. I pray also for those of us who have forgotten that we need You. Open our eyes, Father, that we may see the overwhelming need for the Light of Christ in our lives. I love You, Jesus. Thank You for coming to earth to give us Light. Thank You.
This Christmas season, don't forget the wonder of the Light. Remember Him, and be thankful.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about that...about darkness, and I've come to the realization that life would be miserable without a respite from it. You see, it's Christmas, and at Christmastime, lights are everywhere...on trees, on roofs, on plastic reindeer in the front yard. They're draped over bushes and hung gingerly across porch fronts. That's because lights are an important part of Christmas-time, and it just wouldn't be the same without them. Can you imagine a Christmas without lights? How about LIFE without lights?
There was a time when life on earth did exist without light. No, I don't mean that everyone's electricity went out at the same time. I'm not talking about electricity at all. I'm talking about life without Jesus.
Before Christ was born, it had been over four hundred years since the Israelites had heard ANYTHING from God. He'd not spoken through prophets, through miracles, or even through His priests. To them, the silence of God must have been deafening. I'm sure the Israelites began to wonder whether or not He really existed. I'm sure those that did continue to believe in the old traditions, thought maybe God was still angry with them for their disobedience. I'm sure some were saddened, thinking He'd forgotten them. Can you imagine...life with no hope, nothing but darkness for your future...knowing that nothing would ever get any better? Life in total darkness - talk about scary.
But then God, in the mist of total darkness said, "Let there be Light," and Jesus was born. He'd uttered those words before at the very beginning of time, but this time, the Light was of a different nature. Not only did this Light illuminate, this Light saved. This Light brought eternal hope. This Light broke the darkness of the separation between God and man. This Light came and changed the future of mankind...forever. Jesus, the Light of the world, dispelled darkness and invited light into the lives of the Israelites and us today.
Several years ago, God spoke into my heart those same words. With a big smile on His face, the Father said, "Let there be Light," and there was Light. The darkness and sin that had long held me in fear was dispelled. I now have Light in my soul. Do you? If not, know that Jesus loves you. Know that He didn't come to this earth to condemn you, but to make you right with God. Accept the gift He wants to give you this Christmas. Accept His Light.
Father, I pray for those who need you now. I pray that You will open the eyes of their hearts that they may have a full knowledge of You. I pray also for those of us who have forgotten that we need You. Open our eyes, Father, that we may see the overwhelming need for the Light of Christ in our lives. I love You, Jesus. Thank You for coming to earth to give us Light. Thank You.
This Christmas season, don't forget the wonder of the Light. Remember Him, and be thankful.
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