Our scripture for Christmas is Luke 2:1-20.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:1-20
Are you ready for Christmas? I’m not talking about gifts or cleaning or cooking. Yes, we do all those things to be ready to greet our friends and family when they arrive. But have you prepared yourself to greet the King of Kings?
We go to such effort to be ready in our earthly preparations, it should be even more important to be ready for the Lord of Lords to enter our lives. Don’t think you’re alone in this, we all have the same issues to some degree. We go to church on Sunday, maybe the weekly bible study and sit through the Christmas Eve service until the candles are extinguished and the strains of “Silent Night” echo into real silence. What then?
Do you feel a little guilty when you compare the time spent getting ready for Christmas to the time you spend getting ready for Christ? We all should. Take some time and reread the all too familiar scripture above. Jesus is coming and He’s not looking for a present under the tree with His name on it, He’s looking for your heart.
Loving Lord, our time is spent in the rush of the season, searching for things that fill the moment but often not seeking the gift You have to give which will fill eternity. Help us to slow our scurrying to be ready for the earthly celebration and make time for You to enter our hearts. Amen.