Jesus Christ is Born
1 minute read
This Christmas season, I’ve been thinking a lot about the shepherds.
In an effort to make Christmas a little more Jesus and a little less Santy Claus, we succumbed to our son’s pressures for an Elf on the Shelf with a Shepherd on the Search. Yes, this is like that time in 1997 when you asked your parents for concert tickets to Backstreet Boys and they got you tickets to Jars of Clay, but whatever.
He’s a sweet lil’ Shepherd (whom they’ve aptly named Jingle), and his modus operandi is that he’s searching for the King in a manger. He does all the “elf” things you want him to and avoids the things you don’t want him to do - I’m looking at you, super mom, making snow ball fights out of marshmallows.
The main difference I’ve found that I very much appreciate is it helps tone down the “Santa Claus is watching you!” to promote good behavior and rather gives more opportunities for heart talks vs. Santa talks. For example: “Cecca, when you scream like a psycho and throw a toy car at your brother’s face, is that reflective of the heart of Christ?”
But I digress.
In addition to Jingle squatting in our house, several wise friends mentioned “the stinky shepherds” and the importance of the stable and the manger on their Christmas cards this year. Each one has been the sweetest reminder to my heart.
If the Savior of the World, King of Kings, Prince of Peace chose to reveal himself first to lowly, stinky shepherds - how much more did He come to reveal himself to YOU?
There’s no clean up job, no ladder to quickly climb, no last minute botox, no Schumacher drape needed to come and worship at the manger. To worship at the cross. It’s a come as you are situation then, now, and forever more.
I hope you’ll join me in keeping this at the forefront of your mind when the stress increases, when the judgment (or the envy) starts to creep in, when the frustration or anger or I don’t knowwwwww Margo entitlement comes knocking.
Remember the shepherds.
If they were welcome to worship at the manger, so are you. Get over yourself, get over what’s making you feel less than (or superior), and get down in the dirty, manure smelling straw to meet the Savior of the world… because He came for YOU!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the manger. Thank you for your Son, who you sent to save your people from their sins. We have a lot of sins, God, and the most amazing this is that you know about every single one of them, past, present, future and you still want us. You still loved us enough to send us Jesus! Father God, when we start to run ragged or we get impatient or envious this Christmas week, will you please remind us of the lowly shepherds? Their sole mission was to find Jesus, and they knew they could come exactly as they were. Will you remind us to pursue YOU and YOUR heart while you accept us with open, loving arms?
Suggested Scripture this week:
S/M: Luke 1:1-4
How many different ways does Luke say he verified the forthcoming story?
T: Luke 1:26-38
Think about what this must have meant to Mary. What does verse 38 mean for you in your own life?
W: Luke 1:46-55
List and pray through the many ways Mary praises God!
Th: Matthew 1:1-17 & Luke 2:1-7
Have you ever thought about the significance of the promises to Abraham and David all those years ago that the Messiah would be born of their birth order?
F: Luke 2:8-20
Will you pray for ways to be like these shepherds? Lowly, humble, expectant and focused on their purpose of worshipping Jesus?
S: John 3:16
How baffling this tiny baby in a manger came to die for you and all your sins. Do you believe this to be true? How will the joy of Christmas carry into your daily life today?