Every Monday
A Prayer of Praise for the Newborn King -
By Rev. Kyle Norman
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” - Hebrews 1:3
A few years ago, I found myself wandering through our local mall. It was late November. Christmas decorations were displayed, and the crowds had begun to swell. It was late afternoon, which meant that the mall wasn’t overly packed. I could move from shop to shop with ease.
At one point, my mind tuned into the instrumental background music playing overhead. Music was being blared throughout the mall, and like most people, it simply faded into the background; I paid it no attention. Yet, there was something about the tune above me that sounded familiar. I stood still, eyes closed, in the middle of the crowded food court, listening intently. Then, in a rush, I recognized the tune. The lyrics rose within me:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room.
And let heaven and nature sing!
I opened my eyes and watched the people move around me. People rushed this way and that, weaving in and out of shops; Some stood in line, waiting for their turn at the cashier’s desk. People carried bags filled with the trinkets they purchased. Then, as if spoken from somewhere above me, I heard a whisper in my heart: Is anyone listening? Amid all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, is anyone preparing space to receive the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords?
It’s easy to talk about Jesus as God’s greatest gift to us. Jesus is the gift of the Father’s love and forgiveness. With Jesus, we receive the gift of knowing that no matter what, his presence surrounds us.
This is undoubtedly true, but there’s one problem with this. If we understand Jesus only through the language of gift, then receiving the gift marks the end of the transaction. While in the moment we may ooh and aah over such an extravagant offering, like any gift, we eventually put it down and move on with our lives. In our consumer-oriented society, gifts are eventually replaced.
Perhaps then, Jesus is not a gift to be received. He is a presence to be responded to. The message of the angels wasn’t just that the shepherds received a heavenly present. Jesus was not the divine version of elf-on-the-shelf. Rather, the Angels announced that God had become incarnate; that the Messiah had come to be welcomed into human life. Jesus comes, not as a gift to be handled– but as someone to enter our lives.
And because he comes to meet us, should we not prepare him room?
Born into this world is the radiance of God’s glory. The Christ child is the exact imprint, the manifestation, the illumination of the creator’s magnificent brilliance. All of heaven is crammed into baby flesh. What is more, scripture reveals that this tiny babe is not a passive presence in the world. Jesus, even in fragile flesh, sustains us. His words are powerful and transformative. And so our response isn’t simply to be a nod of assent. We are called to bow down in humble worship, placing our lives in his hands.
In this world of bits and baubles, gifts and gadgets, and human leaders of every ilk and type, this tiny babe is our King. And we are called to open our lives to him.
Let’s Pray:
Jesus, in this moment, I step away from the rushing of the world around me. The noise of life can be distracting, drowning out the call to come to you in humility and praise. And so, in this moment, Lord, I offer you my deepest worship and my unyielding devotion. I open a place for you in my life. Come and fill my life, O mighty King.
Lord, you are worthy of all praise and thanksgiving. Nothing compares to your majesty. Heaven and earth are silent before you. Yet in an act of astounding grace, you come and make your home in me. You offer me love and forgiveness. Your presence fills my life with joy and peace. You come, not because I have earned your presence, but because I need you. And I do need you.
Thank you, Radiant Jesus, for the love that surrounds me each day. Thank you that, even when I forget to turn to you, you remain with me. You continue to hold me, call me, sustain me. All the praises I can bring you are but humble offerings, and yet it is my delight to render to you all the worship I can bring.
May each day of my life be a day lived in your mighty presence.
This I pray in your holy and precious name. Amen.