Run to Worship

What do you do with the good news of Jesus?

We run to do a lot of things, don’t we? Especially this time of year. And there’s nothing wrong with a little rush and hurry, as long as it doesn’t rush and hurry us away from what matters most:

The message from the angels.

The baby in the manger.

The God who came down.

A Little Rush and Hurry

Those shepherds knew a thing or two about the right kind of rush and hurry. Just look . . .

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. . . .

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:15–16, 20 NIV)

Can’t you just see them? Mouths gaping, staffs dropping, staring up at a now-dark-again sky. Then the sudden burst of their chatter. Did you see that? Those were angels! Did you hear? Did you hear what they said! And then, “Let’s go and see”!

Picture them running through the streets. This way. No, I think it’s there. Over here, I found it!

Just Look at Them

After all that rush and hurry, just look at them. Those fresh from the fields, weary and work-roughened, ordinary shepherds slipping (dare I say it?) a bit sheepishly into that stable. Nudging animals out of the way and crowding into each other to make room for Mary and the Little One as Joseph looked on. There they are, kneeling on the straw-covered floor and leaning toward the manger. Each holding their breath and whispering their worship in hushed tones of awe and amazement.

Did one of them oh-so-gently reach to touch His hair? Did a tiny finger reach up to grasp a callused one? Imagine the smiles. Imagine the joy. Imagine the Savior.

How Long?

How long had those shepherds heard the stories? Likely from their own births. How long had they held fast to the promises? Probably for as long as they were old enough to understand them. How long had they waited for this One to come? The Messiah. The King. The One who would set them free.

And here He was, lying in a manger. Just as the angels had said.

Run to Worship

Those shepherds dropped everything on that long-ago, angel-filled night and ran to worship the Savior. Why don’t we do the same? We don’t have to travel to Bethlehem or leave our flocks behind. Because Jesus has come to us. He’s come to be our Immanuel, our God with us. So, let’s open our hearts wide and . . .

run to the manger . . .

run to the Savior . . .

run to worship.