Igniting the Fire of Praise

"The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them" (Luke 2:20).

Speaking of the shepherds (from the last post on the blog), the whole event recorded in Luke 2 had a profound and lasting effect upon their lives. What is it that ignites the fire of praise in your life?

For all practical purposes, the shepherds were living in mediocrity. They held a job which society looked upon with disdain. Because shepherding engulfed so much of the shepherds time and lives, it prevented them from fulfilling the religious laws of the day. Therefore, many considered them to be ceremonially impure and religious outcasts. The danger of shepherding could be great, the reward little and any excitement of the job was scarce.

Having grown up in one of those little churches where the Christmas play always seemed to call for the young boys to don the bathrobe and play the part of shepherds, I must tell you that be romanticized their job, their position and the way they were viewed by their peers. In the first century, not many of us would have been fighting for the job of shepherd. And on the night under observation, I'm sure it must have been pretty run of the mill or common. A dark night, constantly counting their sheep, keeping watch and on it goes. Mediocrity.

But after the startling appearance and message of God's angel, the shepherds went to see what the angels had proclaimed. They sought after the baby Jesus. Search they did! Find him they did! And it absolutely changed their lives.

You don't see them before the pronouncement of Christ's birth jumping about, praising and glorifying God. But let them behold the King of kings. Let them fix their eyes upon the Son of God. Let these common, ordinary shepherds encounter their Maker and you see a fire ignited deep in their soul that would not be extinguishable. When the shepherds left from encountering the Son of the Living God, they returned glorifying and praising God.

Changed? You better believe it. Different? No doubt. Are we? That's a great question. For there is no way we can truly encounter Jesus Christ, and by that I mean come into a relationship with Him by faith, and not be changed. How can we truly know Him and it not light the fire of praise in our soul? Certainly I have witnessed greater praise and joy at a college football game than among many believers. Let 100,000 crazy University of Tennessee fans converge on Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN and you'll hear some praise. You'll see God's creation (human beings) worshipping, praising and glorifying because they were made to do so. Albeit the object is wrong, the act is true.

Christmas should be a God-worshipping, God-glorifying time. Tragically, many will have greater enthusiasm about the presents under the tree than about the One who should be celebrated who came to die on the tree.

Many will erupt in praise over the music about white Christmases, jingling bells and green ole grinches, while few will offer the same praise over the songs singing of Jesus Christ and His birth.

Oh that we might mimic the shepherds. I warn you now, though. To follow the shepherds, you must see what they saw and hear what they heard. And just what is that: You must see Jesus the Son of God and hear (and believe) that a Savior has been born to you in Jesus Christ. If that doesn't ignite the fire of praise and celebration, your wood might just be water-logged. Have a great Christmas!

Micah had a battery of tests again today. It began with an MRI and an Echo cardiogram. This was followed by the drawing of more blood for a blood culture because his fever returned. He did eat some today, though not nearly according to his normal diet. He did show more activity today than he has since last week. However, he still isn't near normal "Micah level."

After I left this afternoon at about 4:00, Sarah called to say that he finally smiled a few times. He hasn't smiled in several days or maybe more than a week which isn't Micah at all.

The doctors, however, still do not know the root of the problem. The belief is still that there is an infection somewhere that the tests have not uncovered. So we continue to pray that the Great Revelator will reveal to doctors the source of his illness.

It appears as though we will spend Christmas in the hospital. So as you celebrate, will you pray for our family. Spending Christmas in the hospital isn't the worst thing to happen to someone. But it is hard when you want to celebrate with your family at home. Nevertheless, the Lord has a purpose and a plan for this all. May I be a good student to know what it is and to be obedient to allow Him to use me.

Please pray for Micah, the doctors and all our family. Pray that even on Christmas in the hospital that we would glorify and praise God for all we have seen and heard.