"Loopy and Lost"

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11 NIV).

Yesterday I began to write some devotionals that center our focus on the joy of Christmas. I must begin by confessing that I love Christmas. The decorations that abound in the neighborhoods and stores all give me great pleasure. I love the giving of gifts. In fact, right now I have my XM radio tuned to Christmas music and “Silver Bells” is playing being sung by Andy Williams! You remember the words I’m sure; they go like this:

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

What a great time of the year! About this time, you may be saying, “Sure, but …” and you fill in the blank with some negative experience you are enduring. Well, let me share a bit with you. You know that I had back surgery three weeks ago. I was pain free for the first day after surgery. However, after that I have not had a day that I was able to do anything without pain in my right leg; and, that’s what they were supposed to fix! The doctors have been very good to explain what is happening and that I will feel better soon. In the meantime they have prescribed various drugs to help get the pain under control. It seems that the nerve controlling the feeling in my right leg is now “decompressing” which causing the pain. I just wish it would hurry it up! And God says, I need your full attention a bit longer.

One of the drugs I have been prescribed has been called my “loopy pill.” It does strange things to me. Mary coined the phrase first because of the first night I took one of the capsules. It seems that the side effects are some disorientation, depression, and even thoughts of suicide. Well, I have dealt with the latter of those three, but the first two have shown themselves. The first night I took it, thirty minutes later I was standing in the middle of the den, walking in a circle, calling for Mary. She came from the bedroom immediately asked what was wrong. I am told that I replied, “I’m lost. I don’t know where to go.” It’s amusing now, however, I can assure you at that moment I was terrified.

Let me make my point quickly as I run out of space. The declaration of the angels was that a Savior had come. They had brought this good news to the shepherds first and it was news that would “cause great joy.” Here it is… please get this… God’s great gift of grace in Christ is good news! It is news that will bring joy! We gain that joy by immediately going to the source of joy. Like those shepherds, we leave everything and race to the Christ. Have you? Will you? So many have come under the influence of the “loopy pill” the world has seduced us into taking. We are lost! Let me bring you this great good news! Christ is born! Joy is yours! Accept his gift of grace now!