Chaos erupts at the holiday season. With all the tasks that we think we must do, along with life events that continue to occur, we may lose the holiday spirit before it even begins. We think we must find the perfect gift or create the perfect meal with all the best ingredients. We decorate and clean the house only to discover that one of our pets destroyed a decoration or storage eroded one. We want perfection, but we must look to the perfect one for having true Christmas spirit.
A long time ago, in a place far away, lived shepherds who looked after their flock at night. They had the dangerous watch time. At night, the wild animals hunt for prey. I know because I hear the coyotes in our neighborhood at night. Sheep are prey. Shepherds must protect their flock at all cause. These shepherds knew this, but when angels interrupted them, they dropped their life of perfection and ran to see the perfect one.
An angel of the Lord came to the shepherds the night Jesus was born and proclaimed to them the Good News that the Savior was born. “Don’t be afraid, for Look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people! Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12; CSB) (The city of David, also known as Bethlehem is in Judea, not Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.)
The shepherds hurried off to see this wonder that the angel told them about. Here’s the question. What did they do with that flock of sheep that they protected? Did they take them with them? Did they leave them to the predators of the night, which would result in their jobs being lost?
We don’t have the answers to the questions of what the shepherds did or did not do with their flock. We do know what they did when they came to Jesus. They did not present him with gifts like the Magi. They bowed down and worshipped him. They knew Jesus would bring them and their nation salvation. They didn’t know how he would bring salvation, but they knew he would bring it.
The shepherds ran to see Jesus. In the night, watching their flock, they dropped it all and went to Jesus. I’m not suggesting that anyone quits their job and hopes that Jesus will give them another one within seconds. I am suggesting that we drop the chaos and worship Jesus.
We must stop with trying to be perfect and go and worship the perfect one who saved us from our sins. Jesus didn’t come to affirm us and our personalities or lifestyle. Jesus didn’t come to perform miracles or inform us of his political views, and which ones are right. Jesus came to die for us. He died for our sins, so we don’t have to. He was the perfect sacrifice.
Here’s the irony. The shepherds guarded the former sacrifice. The Jews had to sacrifice a lamb to receive forgiveness of sins. They didn’t sacrifice any lamb, but a perfect lamb without blemish. Then, on that night the shepherds ran to the manger, they met the perfect lamb that would be the ultimate sacrifice for us. You know why the shepherds were the first to see Jesus? They were the first because they represent all of us who need that perfect lamb. God wrapped our protection in a swaddling cloth and placed Him in a manger. The shepherds left their flock to worship the perfect lamb, Jesus.
This Christmas, shed the perfection of the ambiance of the holiday and meet the perfect one. Whether it is the first time you meet Jesus or the hundredth, take time to meet Jesus and spend time with him. He will accept you without your perfection. He doesn’t care about your food, decoration, or presents, but he cares about your presence. He wants your presence.
This Christmas, come to Jesus and worship him with gladness. Pray, sing Christmas songs that reveal his coming, and study the Christmas story in God’s Word to find the truth of this season. That will bring you the joy of Christmas and brighten your holiday spirit.
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