Come, Running!

Come, running!

Think you're unworthy of worshipping this Christmas? Is today one tinged with shades of shame? Has another demeaned or criticized you, their words stuck like a thorn deep in your mind? Jesus is no respecter of persons. The story we celebrate at Christmas includes men that many considered to be the lowest. They had no status but God sent angels to invite them to the party! Shepherds lived apart from society, tending Bethlehem's sheep. It was a menial job. The men were rough, their work hard. They were thought irreligious because their work kept them from the synagogue service and from observing Jewish rituals. Pharisees sniffed that shepherds were all sinners.

But God chose to bring them into the scene. "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." (Luke 2:9-10, NKJV) "So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger." (Luke 2:15-16, NKJV)

I love that phrase - "they came with haste." After the angels left them, there was a short discussion, and then these men who normally avoided town, who were obligated to make sure their flocks were safe, took off running to find Jesus!

Have you been pushed aside, told that you're not worthy of God or His goodness?

Have you concluded that you are beyond the reach of grace, because you're too bad, good, sinful, old, young , rich, poor? People have lots of reasons (excuses) for not hearing God's call. You're not "too anything" to be beyond God's love. Jesus Christ is ' good news of great joy that will be for all the people.' His coming opened the way to reconciliation with the Lord, to discovery of eternal life. He invites to "Come, follow Me." Interestingly, that particular offer was made to another group of very ordinary men, outside of the social or religious elite. He invited the fishermen of Galilee to discipleship. They, too, dropped what they were doing. "At once they left their nets and followed him." (Matthew 4:20, NIV)

Some are reluctant disciples (an oxymoron really) and others are eager to follow. Some come pushed by fear, some drawn by love. Some are looking for escape from the troubles of life, others to find the entry to life abundant. There is a form of Christianity shaped by satisfying holy obligations in order to 'earn' the favor of God. Then, there are those who love the Lord, His work, and His presence.

To those who come running, there is this promise. "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David." (Isaiah 55:1-3, NIV) "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near." (Isaiah 55:6, NIV)

Come to Bethlehem. Yes, come running!

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Angels We Have Heard On High (Gloria)

Angels we have heard on high,

Sweetly singing o'er the plains.

And the mountains in reply,

Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be,

Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see,

Christ whose birth the angels sing!

Come adore on bended knee,

Christ the Lord the newborn King!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Edward Shippen Barnes | James Chadwick

© Words: Public Domain

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CoffeeBreak will be back next week.  Merry Christmas!
(if you live near Washington, NJ - join us at Faith Discovery Church
tonight at 7 PM for our Candlelight Communion Service - www.FaithDiscovery.com)