Lose A Little Dignity
by Joan Walker Hahn
Monday, December 18, 2017
“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. Luke 2:15b-16 (NKJV)
How I love seeing the excitement on the faces of my grandchildren when they are anticipating a special event. They will clap and shout and my granddaughter will jump up and down and all around. I think we as adults dignify ourselves out of expressing that kind of excitement and anticipation.
When Jesus was born, a host of angels appeared before some shepherds and told them about the birth of the Savior. After the angels were out of sight, the scriptures say the shepherds made haste to go seek out the one whom the angels had told them about.
I would like to imagine that they threw down their staff, pulled up their long robes and ran down the road toward Bethlehem. If holy angels had appeared to them, then certainly running to find the Savior was worth losing their dignity over.
It truly bothers me that the Christmas season has gotten to be so commercialized and hectic, that people have lost the excitement of celebrating the birth of Christ.
Instead of counting down the days to rejoice in the coming of the Messiah, we count down the number of shopping days left, working ourselves into a tizzy.
The difference in the excitement of the shepherds and the excitement we experience at Christmas is what we choose to focus on. The shepherds were totally focused on finding the Savior.
Our focus is spread out all over the place – family gatherings, food to prepare, buying gifts, decorating and on and on.
Would it make a difference if we think about the fact that Jesus is seeking us?
Remember the story of Zacchaeus? Jesus was passing through Jericho and he saw Zacchaeus in a tree trying to see over the crowd.
Jesus told him to make haste coming down, that He was going to his house. So Zacchaeus did make haste. He was so excited that the Lord was coming to him!
When people murmured about Jesus seeking time with a sinner, Jesus replied, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
That should get us excited. Jesus came to seek us out! He came so that we could be saved. When we think about that, it should make us want to jump up and down, and lose a little dignity.
We should try to become more like the shepherds who diligently searched for Jesus. The result of their search, finding the babe in the manger, brought them exceeding joy.
As we approach Christmas this year, let’s try to remember the true meaning of the day and focus our attention on Christ.
The more we focus on Christ and the less we worry about all the other things, the more joyous Christmas will be. So make haste toward Christ, He’s seeking for you!
Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending Your Son into this world! Help us to have the same excitement the shepherds experienced at the birth of Christ. May our focus be on seeking You to worship, even as You desire to spend time with us. I love You, Lord. Amen.
© 2017 by Joan Walker Hahn. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Monday, 18 December 2017.
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