The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Luke 2:11).

There seems to be a strong correlation between worship and giving. When genuine worship takes place, generosity and giving naturally follow. We may not be rich as apparently the visiting magi were. However when we really worship the Lord, we will desire to give of ourselves, our time, our talents, and our treasures. Isn’t it interesting that the shepherds found the baby in the manger? However the wise men find the young child in the house. Don’t you wonder how much time took place? I know that nativity sets have the wise men arriving at the manger. While of course this is not true, the important thing to remember is that they did arrive indeed. They fell down. They worshiped. They opened their treasures and they presented. Those folks really worshiped! The Son of God is worthy of our adoration and reverence. He is worthy of our worship and our generous giving. Our family has enjoyed the tradition of giving a “birthday gift to Jesus” every year. We prayerfully select a missionary or a ministry, and we give the largest gift to that one in honor of the Lord’s incarnation. While the actual day of Christmas has come and gone for another year, it’s not too late for you to give a special gift in honor of the Lord’s birth. It seems like a fitting thing to do since we are celebrating His birth!

For today: May we truly worship the Lord and be generous serving Him.

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2:1-2).

The visit of the Magi, also called the wise men, was a tremendous and incredible situation. While we might sing “We Three Kings” in our hymnals, we really do not know how many wise men came. I know that there were three gifts presented, but we really do not know for sure that just three wise men came. The important thing is that they came to worship Him. It was not a convenient trip. It was not an easy adventure. It was demanding. It took time. It took sacrifice. But it was well worth the trip because they came to worship the Lord Jesus Christ. I have been seated on church platforms for many years. To be honest with you, there are times that I really wonder as I watch people come into the auditorium how many are really there to worship? I know I cannot read people’s hearts. But it is my earnest prayer and my deepest desire that as we come to worship, not only at Christmas time, but throughout the entire year, that we would really come to worship. The wise men traveled a great distance for one purpose. They wanted to worship!

For today: What a great day to worship the Lord! In the privacy of your home make it a worship center.

“And it came to pass, as the Angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger” (Luke 2:15-16).

Such good news demanded a response. If the Son of God could come all the way from His home in Heaven to the city of David, and if the angels would come to them in the fields to announce to them this glorious news, then they must leave the fields and go quickly into the city to find this Baby. Imagine that! The very first ones to visit were not rulers, were not royalty, were not religious leaders; they were shepherds. Wouldn’t you love to have been in the stable that night? I wonder what the shepherds said to Joseph and Mary? I wonder if the shepherds knelt down by the manger? I wonder if the shepherds gave that little family any gift other than their hearts of worship? It must have been quite a sight. The shepherds would never be the same. Later in this passage the shepherds returned, telling everybody they encountered of the glorious announcement of the birth of Jesus.

For today: Such good news demands a response. How has it impacted your life?

“And the angel said unto them, fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

John and his three younger siblings huddled around the radio listening to school closings. They were in the midst of a good old-fashioned snowstorm, and oh, how they hoped their school would be closed. The familiar voice behind the microphone started naming the schools that were closed. One after another through the alphabet was being announced as closed. The Smith children could hardly stand it as they waited with great anticipation for the announcement of their own school closing. Finally the radio announcer arrived at their school, and being the uncle to the Smith children, he announced, “Oak Dale Central closed, Oak Field Central closed, and yes to some of my favorite kids, Oak Hill Central is closed today.” There seemed to be a tone of celebration in his voice. The Smith children danced in jubilation and little Sally screamed, “This is the best news I could ever have!” Later that morning, mother gathered the family around for devotions. She reminded them of her love and how excited she too was that their school was closed. But she also reminded them that school being closed was not the greatest announcement that they could ever have. “While I was happy with the news, it was not the best news,” Mother reminded the children. “The very best news that we could ever experience came that day when our Savior was born in the city of David.” It was a precious time of helping her children to understand the great sacrifice made by the Lord Jesus.

For today: Have you thanked the Lord Jesus for coming to this earth to be your Savior?

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid” (Luke 2:8-9).

I have stood several times in the fields near Bethlehem. That night long ago was no ordinary night. Out in the fields, in the stillness of the night time, suddenly the routine of the shepherds was shattered. Angels visited them! While shepherds were not despised, they were not highly looked upon nor were they greatly respected. How awesome is the Lord our God! He selected shepherds to be the recipient of His great news. Kings were not informed. The religious leaders were not informed. The governor was not informed. Caesar was not informed. The shepherds were selected to hear the glorious announcement of the coming Baby who would be our Savior. This child would grow up and one day be called “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He would refer to Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). How fitting then was it for these shepherds to be told the glorious news about the arrival of the baby Jesus? What a great lesson for us. God often uses the humble, the simple, and the lowly folks to hear and share His glorious news.

For today: I’m not a shepherd, but I can imagine that the shepherds never got over the announcement.