I had just finished the last of my errands. Now I was ready for the bustle of the next three days of Christmas celebration to begin. Driving home, I sang along to one of Matt Redman's songs on the radio, "Heart of Worship."
I'm coming back to the heart of worship..." I sang out.
I'm not sure if it was my heart or my ears that heard it, but as I sat singing along, I was certain that Matt Redman had just sung the word Christmas in place of worship.
I'm coming back to the heart of Christmas
And it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus
Fitting, isn't it? I, like so many others, have made Christmas to be about so much more than Jesus, when it really is all about him. Confession poured out from my lips.
I'm sorry Lord for making it all about the presents. It's all about you, Jesus.
I'm sorry Lord for making it all about the food. It's all about you, Jesus.
I'm sorry Lord for making it all about my comfort. It's all about you, Jesus.
I'm sorry Lord for making it all about the decorations. It's all about you, Jesus.
I'm sorry Lord for making it all about my family. It's all about you, Jesus.
I'm sorry Lord for being so slow to understand this. It's all about you, Jesus.
Even now, I'm not sure I've quite gotten it. A baby. Born in a barn. Surrounded by animals and two loving parents. God became flesh. Announced by angels. Worshiped by Wise Men. King of Kings.
I've been asking and answering the question, "Are you ready for Christmas?" a lot in the last few weeks. My answer has always been yes. I've done my shopping early. I've got the wrapping done. We have all the cookies we need. The tree was trimmed weeks ago. I'm ready.
But this afternoon, with the words, "I'm coming back to the heart of worship," still ringing in my ears, I'm not sure I'm ready. How much time have I focused on talking with, and listening to, to God? How much time have I invested in reading his Word? How have I gone beyond my own comfort to help someone who would be so easy to overlook?
Am I ready, like the shepherds and the wise men, who dropped what they were doing to seek out and worship the new born King? Am I ready, like the Christians of the first century, to speak out about my faith no matter what the cost? Am I ready, like Jesus himself did, to surrender to the Father's will, no matter how hard? Am I ready to make it all about Jesus?
Lord, may I find quiet in the middle of this crazy, chaotic, celebratory Christmas season to meditate on this truth. Help me to make this Christmas all about you, Jesus.