King of Glory

Who is this King of glory? The Lord Almighty.He is the King of Glory Psalm 24:10 NLT

Waiting has never been one of those things I do well. From the time I was old enough to realize that there were Christmas gifts hidden under my parent's bed I became a world class snooper. As a teenager my behavior bordered on the criminal as I would actually un-wrap gifts, try them on for size, and then re-wrap the gift. My mother was on to my scandalous ways and devised ways to try and get me to wait until Christmas morning for my gifts, but alas to no avail. One year however I saw I was getting a yellow sweater and was completely thrilled because I was always told that since my complexion was pale and hair color was blond I couldn't wear yellow, and naturally it is my favorite color. Unfortunately, I had been less than savvy that year in disguising my knowledge of what was going to be under the tree that Christmas which cured me from my snooping ways forever. My mother, having realized that I had seen the sweater walked into my room wearing the yellow sweater that was intended for me and coyly asked, "How do you like my new sweater?" I nearly swallowed my tongue. What could I possibly say that would not reveal my illicit ways?

I think about how the Christmas season for many of us is a time of waiting and doing. Now I completely understand the doing part of Christmas, decorating, shopping, cooking and baking. All of these things I am well acquainted with, and even though I am less than skilled at waiting, I am an excellent doer, I love to do and even love to tell others how, or what to do.

The thing I realized is, I don't have to be a waiter anymore, at least in respect to the reality of Christmas and that is King Jesus. But how do I translate that into my life when I am so busy doing, that I forget that the thing that is most important has already been done, the wait is over?

My mind is drawn to the wise men of the Christmas story. They had been studying the prophecies for centuries, waiting for the birth of the King of Kings. When this particular generation of Magi had the revelation of the birth of Jesus, they left their lives behind and with great passion went in search.

Unlike the wise men, we do not have to wait. We don't have to leave our lives behind and go out in search of something that might be completely elusive. Jesus is not elusive. He is the one waiting.waiting for us, waiting for our lives to be passionate about Him, and waiting for our hearts to put our doing aside, even for a little while.

In October we had a little bit of snowfall that managed to stay on the ground for a couple of hours. My son came home and told me that he got so excited when he saw that snow, because it reminded him that Christmas is coming. For a brief moment I remembered exactly what he was talking about. That joy that wells up inside of us as we remember that something fantastic is coming. How terrific would it be if we never lost that excitement for Christmas, not because of the possibility of a yellow sweater the morning of December 25, but because our waiting is over, the greatest gift of all, the King of Glory was delivered over 2000 years ago.

Heavenly Father, Thank you that You have revealed Yourself to us as the King of Glory in such a precious, personal way, that we do not have to wait, that You have come near. Help us remember the pure joy that comes from knowing Jesus.

Monica Mueller