"Are you ready for Christmas?"

December 21, 2024

At this point in December, it's a natural conversation starter to ask, "Are you ready for Christmas?" I heard this question several times this week. And we all know what it means. It means, "How is the shopping coming? And the wrapping?" We all know how hard it is to get all the gifts bought, wrapped, mailed, or hidden away. So when we ask someone this question, it's a way of showing solidarity. As in, "It's crazy this time of year, right? How are you doing with all of this?" My answer the last few days has been, "I think I'm done with shopping. I just need a few more treats for stockings. And I haven't wrapped gifts yet!" I've been feeling pretty good about my progress and relieved that it all seems to be coming together in time. Killin' it!

But yesterday morning, I realized something. I got my coffee as usual, first thing. Then I sat down in my dim living room near the glow of the Christmas tree to read my Bible while the rest of my family was still asleep. And I realized I hadn't spent any time really thinking about the birth of Jesus, which is the most important part of Christmas. So while I have spent the last few weeks getting the gifts ready for all the people I care about, I haven't spent time getting my heart ready.

So instead of continuing my Bible reading in the book of Exodus, I turned to Luke chapter 2. And I asked God to open my heart to the wonder of the Son of God coming to Earth as a tiny human baby, born in a humble place to humble parents.

 Luke 2

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.

It brought tears of gratitude to my eyes. He came to be with us. He came to show us who God is. And He came to die for us so that we could have eternal life. And the most precious thing I have in my life every single day is His Spirit within me. Every morning I greet the Lord as I wake up. All day He is with me, through the joys and the trials, in the fulfilling moments and the mundane moments. And it's all because He came as that infant, to save us and reconcile us to God our Father.

"O come let us adore him..."

My friend, are you ready for Christmas? It starts with being still. And being grateful. And looking into the manger at the tiny face of the Lord Jesus who came here to save you. Because He loves you.

Come.