Christmas compels us to worship …

Christmas is a BIG story!

A wondrous story!

When we hear of God becoming man, joining us in the world He has created by wrapping Himself in flesh and being born as one of us … how do you respond to such incredible news?

With worship!

There really is no other rational response than to worship God for the infinitely glorious gift of giving His Son …

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us …,” Isaiah 9:6a.

In yesterday’s post, my point focused on the joy that comes with Jesus. During Christmas time, that sense of joy, that extra dose of happiness that seems to come with the season is generated, in part, because we worship God more during this time of the year.

Oh, without a doubt, there are many who are wrapped up in the consumerism and selfishness of a holiday season and give God little or no thought at all, but there are millions who think of God more during this time of year.

We sing songs that praise Him.

We send millions of cards to people that contain messages glorifying God for what He has done.

We set out manger scenes, watch TV programs that include the message of Christ’s birth, and we even go to church!

What are we doing?

Worshipping!

Worship, in its most basic definition, means to ascribe worth or value to. Whether we’re doing it with the purest of motives or a right heart, our worship of God increases during the Christmas season, and that experience heightens our joy and generates a greater sense of peace and happiness.

It just feels right to worship God!

As a hammer was made to strike a nail, so were we created to worship God.

God usually doesn’t get the attention He deserves in our lives. Our habit is to ascribe more worth or value to other people or things than we do God. Max Anders writes in his book, “30 Days to Understanding the Christian Life,” about how we misdirect our worship …

It’s easy for us to get confused and substitute other things for worship. Many years ago, Thomas K. Beecher once preached for his brother, Henry Ward Beecher, at the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York. Henry was a very famous preacher, and many people had come to hear him. When Thomas stood up to preach, some people began to move toward the doors. Realizing that they were disappointed because he was substituting for his brother, Thomas raised his hand for silence and announced, “All who came here this morning to worship Henry Ward Beecher may leave now. All who came to worship the Lord may remain.”

On any given day, it can be easy to worship others or things instead of worshiping God. But the message of Christmas redirects our attention to our Maker and compels us to worship!

“Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care,” Psalm 95:1-7.

Worship is the right and rational response to the Christmas message, but is a true worship of God your response to Christmas? is this a season of worship for you, or an indulging in a holiday? How are you ascribing the greatest worth and value to God this Christmas?

Scotty