By Karen Porter and Cherry McGregor
The story of Christmas is so familiar we might overlook the new heart available from a powerful Creator who became a babe in a manger.
“Is it true, Abba? Is what they are saying true?”
“Slow down, John. What are you talking about?”
“The shepherds, Abba. Everyone is talking about what the shepherds saw. When they were tending their sheep in the fields, angels appeared. Lots and lots of angels, telling the shepherds the Messiah was born in Bethlehem.”
“Abba, the shepherds came into Bethlehem and found Him just like the angels said. He was wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger. In our stable. Our stable!”
Eli muttered, “The Messiah in my stable? How could this have happened?” If only he would have known, he would have gladly offered his own room.
He was just so busy. He had missed it.
The greatest event to ever take place had occurred in his stable. But he had missed it.
The Busy Heart
I missed Him too. My days start early. Carpooling before dawn to practice, ready for school, breakfast, and out the door. Laundry, dishes, vacuuming. Pay the bills and exercise. Work, work, work. Decorate the tree. Christmas shop. What’s for dinner? Back to the carpool, across town for doubleheader basketball games. Get home, eat dinner, help with homework, showers for everyone. In bed, I stare at the ceiling. Guilty. Again.
Not one minute reading the Bible. Sure, I’d uttered a few prayers here and there throughout the day, but never connected. I thought I’d have a few minutes to spend some time with Him, yet those minutes never came. I missed the Savior of the world today. Again.
My life—so full, yet empty. People are busy. There’s no denying that. Books have been written about how busy people can find time for God. Ways to do it quickly and efficiently. If we regularly cannot find time for the Lord in our day—let’s face the truth—He’s not a priority. Ouch. Maybe that feels like a gut punch. It does to me.
The Empty Heart
The innkeeper’s busy heart led to an empty heart. He missed Jesus because busyness juggles the urgent and ignores the important. “I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God Himself” (Ephesians 3:19 NLV).
Jesus wants to completely fill your empty heart, and He might have a real God encounter waiting just for you.
Making Christmas Matter
During the Christmas season, when we are at our busiest, add seek Him daily to your calendar.
Look for unique ways to slow your pace and find the real reason for the season.
• Read the Christmas story in Matthew 1:18 through 2:18 and in Luke 1:5 through 2:20 every day in December.
• Listen to Matthew and Luke on audio as you put out your nativity scene.
• Ask the children in your life to put on a play of the Christmas story.
• Send a Christmas card with a letter to a missionary.
• When your family is together, take turns sharing your personal salvation stories.
Adapted with permission from Make Your Heart a Manger (Bold Vision Books), a classic Christmas book written by mother-daughter duo Karen Porter and Cherry McGregor.
