Draw Close
By Jamie Kent
With Christmas quickly approaching, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle—Christmas parties, office gatherings, church events, school recitals, presents, family, and food to prepare. The list never seems to end! With so much to do, it becomes easy to lose sight of what matters most: Jesus. Even this week, I realized that I was so caught up in the hustle of the season that I had to stop, step back from some responsibilities, and rest because I was running myself ragged.
During my prayer time, I found myself reflecting on the nativity scene—an exhausted new mother, an anxious yet excited father, animals milling around in a dirty barn, unaware of the significance of the moment. There were simple and awestruck shepherds, and one baby sleeping soundly in a feed trough. This was no ordinary baby; He was the long-awaited Messiah, the One who would deliver Israel and all mankind in the most unexpected way. Yet there He lay, in the most unlikely place for a King—let alone the King of Kings.
The shepherds in the story of Jesus’ birth have always been my favorite part of the Christmas story. Shepherds mostly kept to themselves in the fields and were often viewed as lower in society; they were often overlooked and seen as outsiders. On this night, however, they were simply tending their sheep, having an ordinary evening, completely unaware of the miracle taking place in a nearby stable. But an ordinary night became extraordinary when a multitude of angels lit up the dark sky to announce the birth of Jesus and worship Him (Luke 2:8-12).
Can you imagine the sight?
“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.’” (Luke 2:13–14)
The shepherds didn’t hesitate—they ran to find the newborn baby, filled with awe, wonder, and excitement. And when they arrived, much to Mary and Joseph’s surprise, everything was exactly as the angel had said.
Then God reminded me of a powerful truth. When we gaze upon a newborn baby, we naturally want to get close and take in every small detail of this new life. We want to hold the baby, trace their tiny fingers and toes—we don’t stand at a distance. No, we lean in. The shepherds, too, would have wanted to get close, kneeling beside the manger to behold the miracle child—a simple act of submission and humility before the manger throne. It was then that the shepherds—who undoubtedly were changed after witnessing the power of God—were the first ones to go and tell others.
In verses 17–18, we read, “Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished.”
In our world today, humility isn’t a virtue that is talked about much. In fact, many believers and non-believers alike often have a false view of what humility is—thinking it means diminishing ourselves or shrinking back—but that is not at all what God wants for us! True humility is when we place ourselves under God’s authority and ask Him to lead us. It is taking our hands off the steering wheel of our lives and giving it to God. When we do this, there is so much freedom! We don’t have to strive to get ahead, we don’t have to try to prove ourselves to anyone, and it takes the pressure off!
In The 7 Resolutions, Karl makes this point clear. He states:
“It’s not about thinking pitifully little of ourselves; it’s about thinking of ourselves less because we’re captivated by God’s glory and our joy in Him. It’s the nature of Christ to not be served but to serve. This is why humility is probably the most important decision of those who are rich in faith.”
If there’s anything I’ve learned in my walk with Christ over the last 25 years, it is that if we want to build God’s Kingdom, then we must walk in humility. I know this to be true because there was a recent four-year period in my life when I was walking in pride, and it was destroying my walk with God. I was more concerned with building my own kingdom of wealth, success, and recognition. I was busy building my kingdom to epic proportions, all the while walking further away from God. I had left Him in the dust, taken up a hammer and chisel when I should have been carrying a cross and His Word. I was a born-again disciple of Christ, but pride consumed me to the point that it drained all the joy out of my life and left me empty. It wasn’t until I surrendered my pride, humbled myself under God’s mighty hand, and drew close to Him that He taught me what true humility looks like.
I never want to go back to that dark place again. While there are still times when I struggle, now, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I recognize those prideful tendencies much quicker, and I can deflect them. I’ve learned that there is joy in walking in humility, and I would rather walk in joy than pride any day!
As we reflect on that first Christmas night, we can see so many different examples of humility—Mary and her willingness to carry and raise Jesus; Joseph and his obedience to God; Jesus being born in a stable; and, of course, the shepherds who drew near without hesitation.
Perhaps this Christmas, instead of giving in to the hustle and bustle, we pause. We draw close and gaze upon the baby in the manger. May we drop to our knees in humble repentance, or perhaps we surrender our lives to Christ for the very first time. It is in this posture of humility that we truly grow in our faith—not just at Christmas, but every day of the year. Like the shepherds, may we draw near and humbly approach the manger throne, where true and lasting joy is found.
Merry Christmas!
Read: Luke 2:1–20
Reflect:
What’s one practical thing you can do to draw close to God this Christmas?
Is there any area of your life in which you are not walking in humility?
If you are surrendering to Christ for the first time this Christmas, tell us about it! We have resources for you should you take this important step of faith.
Jamie Kent works in a Community Recreation Center and plans and implements programs for senior adults, children, and families. She also leads Bible studies, mentors young women, and helps lead worship. She holds a Master’s Degree in Ministry Leadership from Moody Theological Seminary, and her passion is to help others grow in their faith. Jamie resides in Waco, Texas, and in her free time, she enjoys playing guitar and crafting.