This is the season of Advent, when we celebrate Jesus’ birth! When the long wait for His arrival ends – and the celebration of Emmanuel – God with us – begins! It’s Christmastime! And all that goes along with this season is for Jesus!
• Garlands. Lights. Tinsel. Bows. It’s all for Him.
• Songs and Symphonies. Parties and Caroling. It’s all for Him!
• Ugly Christmas sweaters. Office Gift Swaps. Door decorations. Cheesy Christmas movies. Special treats & desserts & baked goods. All of it is for Him!
Even when we don’t know it – it’s still for Him! Even when we don’t mean to be celebrating Jesus, that is still exactly what’s happening!
Think about it: if God had not come to earth, if Jesus had not been born, there would be no Christmas. All of the celebrations and joy and specialness of this season – they would not exist. But because of Him – because of the Advent of Jesus, the coming and arrival of God’s Son to earth – we celebrate. The whole world celebrates!
All the trees & gifts & decorations & music & food – it’s like the whole world is throwing Jesus one gigantic, month-long birthday party! Even when people don’t know it, that’s what they are celebrating! That’s what all of this is about!
That’s what all of this is for: the day God came to earth, as an infant, to grow into a man, to experience human life, to live & walk & work among us – as one of us. His life and death would redeem mankind, and His Resurrection would conquer sin, death, and the grave – FOREVER! All of heaven and all of creation sings and celebrates and rejoices at the wonderful, unfathomable miracle of Jesus!
And so during Advent – in these weeks that lead up to Christmas – we speak a vocabulary of worship: we use words like “adore”, “exalt”, “rejoice”, “bow down”, “kneel before Him”. We recount stories of how the shepherds were in awe of Him. Of how the wise men were overjoyed because of Him! They came bearing gifts worthy of a king! And so we follow their example. We present gifts to each other in honor of Jesus’ birth. We sing songs of worship like “Joy to the World” and “O Come Let Us Adore Him”.
But worship is so much more than just singing. It’s SO much more. Whenever a thing does what the Creator of that thing made it to do, the Creator is honored:
• A child’s laughter exalts God.
• An act of selfless kindness glorifies God.
• A finely-crafted piece of furniture from a carpenter.
• A joyful dance from a ballerina.
• A delicious meal prepared by a skilled cook.
• A drawing or sculpture or painting or photograph can be an act of worship.
When we manage money with integrity,
• when we love our neighbor,
• when we farm God’s creation.
• When we teach the next generation about God, and life, and the world.
Whenever humanity does what God created humanity to do, it is worship!
• When our hands heal,
• when our inventions & innovations serve others,
• when we rejoice with those who are rejoicing,
• when we mourn with those who are mourning.
• When husbands and wives love each other;
• When children learn and grow;
Whenever humanity does what God created humanity to do, the Creator of humanity is exalted! Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! Let every heart, prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing!
