The Privileged Life: Run to the Manger!
“And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: NKJV)
At this time of Advent, we ought to spend long, quiet moments in prayer, meditating on the Christmas story and preparing for the arrival of our Lord. That’s the optimum plan.
But sometimes…we just gotta run to Jesus.
Take a look at those famous guys who showed up the night Jesus was born.
Imagine rough-and-tumble shepherds, spending a sleepy evening trying to keep up with their sheep in the dark Judean countryside. Suddenly, the sky explodes with a blinding display of angelic power. The shepherds are terrified—so panicked, in fact, that the angel has to start with the words, “Do not be afraid!”
As soon as the angel proclaims that the Savior is born, a multitude of heavenly warriors appear across the heavens and burst into wild praise. They worship their Commander in a victory shout, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” And just as quickly, they’re gone.
What’s the response of the shepherds? An intense desire to find this Savior and worship Him. They all take off sprinting to meet Jesus and search relentlessly through all the streets and homes in Bethlehem until they find Him.
Think about it. They go running. In the darkness. Without waiting for dawn or stopping to “get ready” for Jesus.
These guys are dirty from handling sheep. But they dash to town anyway without bothering to get cleaned up. They’re not thinking about themselves, only about the incredible news that the Messiah has arrived.
They find Him, too, with Mary and Joseph. And their lives are changed forever.
Afterward, the shepherds worship God with reckless abandon. They bubble over in boisterous echoes of the angel words, while everyone else marvels at the news. The rag-tag herdsmen spark a spontaneous adoration of God for His miraculous arrival among them.
What’s your story this Christmas? Are you, like the shepherds, simply going about your business and trying to keep up with the demands?
What if a bunch of angels showed up at your door with some unexpected news? With a life-changing report? With a priceless treasure? Would you say, “Oh, I’m pretty busy right now. I’ll think about this for a while and maybe go check it out later.”
Not the shepherds. They knew good news when they heard it, and they weren’t going to miss Jesus.
I’m reminded of some of the lyrics in the ancient hymn, “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy”: Come, ye weary, heavy laden, lost and ruined by the fall; if you tarry till you’re better, you will never come at all.*
Friend, when you need your Savior, call out to Him. When He knocks on your door, open it immediately and embrace Him. When you’re drowning in the depths of despair, reach out your hand and let Him grab hold of you.
Don’t wait until you’re completely prepared. Fly to Him this very moment and worship Him. Bask in His beauty, His love, His holiness. And when you do, you’ll probably respond the same way the angels and shepherds did—shouting praises to God for His unspeakable gift.
Let’s make sure we don’t miss Jesus this Christmas. Run with me to His manger right now!
God and Lord of heaven, I praise You and bless Your name for coming to our world so long ago. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to take on our dirty flesh and yet live among us without sin. Thank You for bringing me Your good news of salvation, Your compassion, and Your great love. Prepare my heart for Christmas Day, but also make me swift of feet to run to You now without delay. Enfold me in Your loving arms, and inspire me to shout Your good news to a weary world. In Your excellent name, Jesus, Amen.
Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom.
© Copyright 2024 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #Jesus #Advent #Christmas #MaryandJoseph #Christmasstory #shepherds
*J. Hart (1759) Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy https://hymnary.org/text/come_ye_sinners_poor_and_needy_weak_and#Author
