Wrapping It Up

Here we are again, heading into the final stretch of another year. Christmas is right around the corner and the hustle around me is almost overwhelming.

Do you hear the Lord whispering to your heart? Slow down. Be still. Here I am. Waiting and ready to be found. I don’t want to let another moment, let alone a year, slip by without basking fully in my Savior’s glory.

Are we so focused on wrapping the presents that we miss the present God has fully unwrapped for us already? Jesus, coming in human form and enduring all He did for us, isn’t something to be taken lightly. We don’t want to only tune in one day of the year but I do want to celebrate what Christmas is truly about and not have it simply brushed aside in the hurry.

I find myself completely enthralled with the awesomeness of the story of Christmas. Is it just me or is the fact that God chose everyday, ordinary people to play such amazing roles in His great plan reassuring? 

In other words, because of Christ, we’re all able to be used in God’s great story!

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:7-11 (NLT)

Did you catch the fact that the first people, other than Joseph and Mary, to hear the good news of Jesus’ birth were shepherds? Maybe it’s because I raise sheep for a living and know all too well how shepherds can be viewed by others that I always find such great delight in this passage.

God uses who He chooses!

We find ourselves reflecting a lot at this time of year and sometimes we can be overly critical of ourselves. I’m not going to lie, I’ve dropped the ball on countless occasions this year. But you know what, God is still using me! He doesn’t disqualify us from service because of our weaknesses, He uses them for His glory. Does that make anyone else want to jump up and down with praise for our great King?

As you go about your plans for Christmas this year, I pray Jesus will permeate every part of it. As we wrap up another year don’t rush past all of the wonder and splendor of our Savior. Let’s each walk into the new year humble, teachable and ready to put feet to our faith.