What On Earth Are You Doing Here?

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

John 6:38

One of the many things I enjoy about the holidays is people watching. My wife and I will sometimes just sit on a bench somewhere (usually in a mall while on vacation) watching people pass by. We are easily entertained and are often times amazed by the unique ways people dress and carry themselves as they move about but our most favorite thing is to look for people who resemble people we know. The funniest thing of all is to be somewhere far away from home and I’ll say to my wife, “hey, doesn’t that remind you of so and so” and she responds, “oh my gosh, that is so and so”. When a reunion takes place its not uncommon for someone to say, “what on earth are you doing here?”

Aș we prepare for yet another Christmas this year I always wonder what it must have been like that first Christmas when Jesus was born into the world. For the most part no one was anticipating his arrival other than his parents Mary and Joseph, Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth and her husband Zacharias and maybe a few close friends. People were just going about their business. Often times the Lord’s greatest work is done in obscurity, yet in plain sight. Knowing that to be true we do well to not allow ourselves to get so caught up in the hustle of the holidays and miss a Jesus sighting, or from being used of God in helping others experience the miracle of Christmas.  

God is here and moving among us just as He promised us that first Christmas, Jesus remains our Immanuel. Not in the flesh mind you, but very much in the Spirit. If we allow our hearts and our minds to be still we are certain to get glimpses of God at work as He works in and through people. Joy is a word often associated with Christmas and joy is all around in those who make Christmas not about themselves but recognize they too, just like Jesus are here not to do their own will, but the will of Him who sent them.

I LOVE YOU!