HIS BIRTHDAY GUEST LIST

The shepherds were the first invited guests to pay homage to the Christ-child at birth. They were the first to set eyes on the long-awaited Messiah, the first to spread the good news, the first to make Him known. But shepherds at that time were at the bottom of the social ladder, sharing the same status as tax collectors and dung sweepers.

That shepherds were chosen to witness and herald His birth is an expression of His upside-down Kingdom, not of this world. It is no coincidence that the Son of God is the Good Shepherd sent to the lost sheep of Israel, who have all gone astray. Our Christ and Savior was born in obscurity. Vulnerable, soon to be hunted, and on the run. He came to die in order to give life. Everything about Him from birth to death, resurrection to ascension, is radically counter-cultural. 

When we, citizens of this Kingdom, celebrate His birth, are we demonstrably counter cultural like Christ, that people should take note? If Jesus were to crash our homes this Christmas, would He recognize that He is “the reason for the season”? How might we do Christmas differently with our families and friends so that Christ can be truly centerstage? Who are the people Christ would want to gather around Him for His birthday, the people that He might have on His guest list?

We also want to celebrate Christmas by remembering our missionaries, the shepherds and messengers, who have gone out to make Christ known, doing what Christ did when He came on the first Christmas.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for coming to us, God made man.

Thank You for sharing the ordinary life we live, from childhood to manhood.

Thank You for exposing our sin, our hopelessness apart from You.

That we may come to You, free to live a different life,

no longer poor or blind or imprisoned or oppressed.

For You have come to give us a life with God.

Christ Immanuel—God with us.

Hallelujah!

You were born to die so that we may live.

We owe all that we are to You. So we give all that we are back to You.

Help us to choose obedience to the Father as You did,

and serve You as You deserve.

Teach us the way of Your Kingdom.

Make us honest bearers of the Good News.

Bless those who have gone far from home to do so.

Receive our prayers for them today. Be close to them this Christmas!

In Your name we pray, Amen.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Lk 2:8-11 ESV)