I don't know what went through your mind when your read the title. Maybe you tapped on this article out of curiosity. Maybe there was a hint of cynicism as you think that sounds musical and like a peaceful scene and your heart feels far from peaceful and to worship sounds excruciating. Or maybe you chose to read this because, you too, found that adoration and worship isn't limited to the peaceful and good scenes in your life. Worship and adoration are the wind in our sails, the doorway that opens up to peace, and the anchor to our soul as we hold the realities of hardship, grief, lament along with hope and faith.
It's easy to paint the scene of the nativity with calm and peace. Amidst the peace and calm that was present the night Jesus was born, there was also the reality that there was no room in an inn where comfort would have been for Mary to birth Jesus. Disappointment. There was the reality that the barn stinks, odors of the cattle, smells of the hay and dung. Not perfect or pleasant. The shepherds who came, came from the hillside. They came from work, as they were. No curated attire or taking the time to look-just-right.
"A Saviour was born", announced the angel. The shepherds received the message and said, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened. Let us go see what the Lord has made known to us." They went. They went in a hurry, with haste, very likely leaving behind the flock of sheep on the hillside. They ran to the stable and worshipped. They worshipped the infant, giving Him the gift of adoration right in the middle of life and all that it held. The mundane of work, the smells, the treatment of the Romans on their minds were laid down as they worshipped the Saviour, the One who came, the One who was promised to them ages ago.
Jesus, the One who came, is now here after 400 years of not hearing from any prophet or priest.
The truth of worship and adoration is that hardship, stinky smells, and pain aren't annulled. Remembering who God is and praising Him and giving thanks to Him, is the air to our lungs and changes the posture of our heart to receive Him.
The stinky barn smells become the aroma of holy ground. In the middle of disappointments and pain, peace smiles as we learn to know the Prince of Peace.
Life holds the both/and. Jesus' coming did not erase pain and hardship. In many ways, it intensified it as light collided with darkness. Jesus' coming contains the promise that the serpent, Satan would be defeated some day and that does not go without a fight, a battle.
We, too, can come to worship and adore Him, just as we are. We come with our pain, the disappointments, and the realities that are, oh so real and give thanks for Jesus as our Comforter. He is the Prince of Peace that calms our hearts within the storm or calms the storm. We camp under His wings and find a refuge. We come because we choose to learn to trust the One who came. We come and peace pervades. The Greek word for peace is eirene meaning peace, rest, quietness, set at one again.
Satan was defeated at the resurrection but not destroyed forever. Today we are still in this battle between light and darkness, pain and hope, control and trust. Our worship and adoration is the posture for victory and peace.
Jesus came to set us at one with Himself, not the world around us. We can have a quietness within our hearts, even in the most unpleasant circumstances. When we worship and adore Jesus because of who He is, it becomes the doorway for peace to envelope our heart and mind. He is the Door, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Come. Let us adore Him.
Come, is the continual invitation of Jesus, the One who came.
Come, as you are, with all that you hold within your heart and mind.
Come and worship the One who came. For you.
