As we continue to prepare our hearts for this Christmas, may we never lose sight of the reason we were created. We were created to give praise, glory, and honor to our King. Shepherds left their flocks to see the One. Wise men traveled hundreds of days to find the One. ALL so they could bow before the newborn King.

We live on the other side of the curtain being torn in two. We live in a place and a day where our entire devotion has access to “touch the hem of his garment,” to sit in the light of His glory. We have access to the throne room, to the holy of holies; we have access to the heart and ear of our King.

He is looking for worshippers in spirit and in truth. Worshippers who cannot explain everything but who KNOW in the depths of their hearts who HE is. Worshippers who didn’t follow reason but followed a star (the wise men). Worshippers who didn’t follow class status but followed the song of heaven (the shepherds).

Consider the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair and with her tears. Consider David who danced before the Lord completely exposed. Consider the men and women of old who would build an altar and give it a name – just so they would never forget what the Lord had done for them. Consider the men and women in the upper room, waiting for a touch from the One who would send the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, so that they could then go out in the FULLNESS of the One who called them by name.

We are also called like those men and women the upper room – to wait on His move and to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in boldness and authority. We are called to worship, with the awareness of ones who have been “set apart,” as ones who recognize the GIFT we have been given, the relationship we have access to!

“Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights his heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe.” (Heb 12:28 TPT)

We can walk with this confidence and boldness because of the greatest gift sent down for us – a baby laid in a manger, the ONE who would one day take on the sins of the entire world, the ONE who made a way and gave us access to intimacy with Him, the ONE who calls us by name.

Can you see the heavens open as the angels spoke to the shepherds? Can you feel the excitement of seeing a bright star far off in the sky – a star so brilliant you would leave everything behind to follow? Can you sense the reverent awe of Elizabeth as her young cousin, Mary, came into her presence, carrying the ONE? A knowing flooded across her being as the baby in her womb leapt, filling her with the Holy Spirit. A knowing filled the shepherds as they left their charges to lay their eyes on the ONE. A knowing spurred on the wise men to pack their camels for months on the road, so they could kneel before and worship the King foretold.

This same knowing filled the woman who touched the edge of Jesus’ garment. This same knowing overcame the woman who knelt before Jesus to wash His feet with her hair. This same knowing is what spurred David in humility to dance before His God. This same knowing is what prompted Paul’s life to COMPLETELY transform.

Does this same knowing fill you? Ask the Father for it. Read the Christmas story again this week. Put yourself into the shoes of one of those unsuspecting players, players who each encountered the King of Kings. Close your eyes, imagine, consider their thoughts and their awe. Watch “The Nativity”, watch the Chosen’s Christmas special. Worship with songs like “Light of the World,” “Noel” or “Mary Did You Know?”

Emmanuel – God with us.

Engage with the story afresh and see if it doesn’t leave you in the same knowing. A knowing that is like the merchant who found the pearl of greatest value and sold everything to buy it.

Do you know the value of the gift given to you? The gift that bought your inheritance, your salvation, your life, your freedom, your holiness, your call…? The gift that gives you access to the One who knew you before you were ever in your mother’s womb, the One who calls you by name.

Our response? To be a people who bring praise to His glory.

Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. (Rm 12:1 TPT)

Love came down. His name is Jesus.

We love and serve the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. As you consider the story afresh this week, what gift can YOU bring?

The wise men brought gifts for a king. The shepherds brought their hearts. David and the woman who washed Jesus’ feet brought their reputation. Paul and Matthew brought their livelihood… All of these were hinged in faith, faith that HE was/is the One!

What gift will you bring? Please share how the Lord has spoken to you in the comments.