When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.   Luke 2:15-18 HCSB

The shepherds were busy doing their jobs. They were in the fields at night tending their sheep. All of a sudden angels appeared, and the glory of the Lord shown all around them and they were terrified. But an angel told them where to find baby Jesus, the Savior, the Messiah. Then all these angels began praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Our Scripture passage says the shepherds determined to go to Bethlehem right away. It says they hurried off. They stopped what they were doing and sought Jesus immediately. It was urgent to them.

We know the Wise Men also sought Jesus. They travelled a long way. Jesus is described as a young child in Matthew 2:11 which also describes Him being in a house. So, we know the Wise Men were not at the stable but got to Jesus after He was older. Further evidence of this is the fact that Herod ordered all Hebrew males 2 and under be killed. It’s possible Jesus was two years old by the time the Wise Men got there.

Matthew 2:1-2 says, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” They left their lives in the east and travelled a great distance to worship Jesus.

We all have heard it and seen it on shirts and bumper stickers that Jesus is the Reason for the Season, but do we honor that? Do we get so busy celebrating Christmas that we fail to celebrate Christmas? Do parties and events stop us from truly worshipping and praising our Lord and Savior?

Do we fail to consider that this baby was born to die on a cross for our sins?

I’m not faulting anyone for making memories with their family during the holiday season. My mom and I used to try to go to New York every Christmas. We would take in the lights and decorations, the tree at Rockefeller Center, the Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. It became our way to celebrate Christmas. I’d love to be there now.

Up until this time last week, I was seriously considering flying out today to spend a couple days there. The last time I went, however, I was reminded of 1 John 2:16-17 which says, “For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Even in New York, many businesses are closing. Some of my favorite restaurants are just faint memories, some of my favorite stores are gone. They have passed away just as the Bible tells us the things of this earth will do.

There is nothing wrong with making memories and starting new family traditions. There is nothing wrong with attending parties and parades and other events celebrating the season. But don’t let it cause you to fail to praise and worship Jesus. Don’t let these things distract you from what is most important.

Make time daily in this busy season to study God’s word, pray to Him, and attend services to worship Him and give Him glory, honor and praise. Don’t get so busy celebrating the season that you forget the reason.

Have a great day!