The house is clean from top to bottom, the presents wrapped and under the tree, the cinamon star bread was a hit, Son#2's sheep is munching happily on our lawn, the pavlova is waiting to be decorated, the Christmas puddings just need to be heated, the turkey is defrosting and will soon be stuffed and cooked, and a broccoli salad just needs to be made at the last minute.
It seems we are ready for Christmas ... except for one thing.
Mary knew.
The shepherds did it.
Even the wise men bent the knee.
From my devotion this morning by Shane and Shane (I'm not sure if the link will work if you're not on YouVersion):
"Christmas reminds us that our life's dominant note must not be our witness for Jesus, but our worship of Jesus. ... If the chief theme of our lives is not worshipping Jesus, enjoying God in Him, and being freshly astounded by His grace toward us sinners, we have no business telling it on the mountain ..."
So this Christmas let's worship Him.
Worship the Light of the World who left heaven's glory and came to a smelly and evil stable that is our world.
Worship the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings who cannot be dethroned regardless of governments or pandemics or lockdowns or anything else that is happening in our world.
Worship Christ the Redeemer, who took our sins upon Himself and bore the price that should have been ours.
Worship Emmanuel, God is with us.
Worship.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that 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. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Luke 2:8-20
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