Day: December 8, 2020

When I was teaching I always had students with a heart to help, a student that wanted to pass out papers, arrange things on my book shelves, clean the room in general, or those that wanted to help grade papers. It always interested me as to which ones were interested in helping compared to those that were not the least inclined to help anyone. Looking back I can still see the faces of those eager to help me. They were not always the students with the highest intellect,the student with the best grades, the most popular student, or the student from the highest socioeconomic standing; but they always had a heart of availability.

On Sunday our pastor spoke of the difference between Saul and David. Saul was the one with all of the apparent strengths and characteristics of a king, while David possessed little that would give indication he would be chosen as king. Yet we read where God referred to David as a man after His own heart.

“But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.” 1 Samuel 13:14

Many times through my life I have felt inadequate for a task that God asked me to do. There have been times when I argued that I was not enough, that I was not talented enough or eloquent enough; yet, God always shows me that it’s not about my ability. He is able, I just need to be available then He will supply the ability. It’s for His Glory, not mine. All I need to have is a heart of availability !!

“The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.” Psalm 104:31

“Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.” Psalm 72:18-19

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea 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

Since I was a child I’ve thought of what it must have been like to kneel in the presence of baby Jesus knowing He had come as the Savior of the world; knowing He had come down from Heaven to live among us.

In my mind I could see them worshipping before Him, bringing Him precious gifts to express their heartfelt reverence. Every Christmas as I set up the nativity, I once again ponder and consider this image in my mind.

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

In my pondering I am reminded that I have the opportunity to worship Him now, just as they did so many years ago. I have the ability to come before Him, knowing Him as my Savior, the one who fulfilled the prophecy as Messiah, the one who came to seek and to save that which was lost.

As beautiful a picture as it might be to think of that first Christmas morning, or the night the wise men knelt before Him, the same sense of wonder can still occur within me as I come before Him to worship Him today. It’s a matter of how I view Him, it’s a matter of how I come before Him.

”But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” John 4:23

I need to come before Him with a true heart ready to worship. I need to worship Him in the true knowledge of who He is, my Lord and Savior. I need to come before Him in true worship, then will I be able to experience Christmas as it was meant to be experienced in true worship.

“O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.” Psalm 96:9