As a few of my friends and I enter into week two of Max Lucado’s online Advent study, Because of Bethlehem, we found an interesting question: what do you worship? Max defines worship as ‘trusting in an object or activity to give us life or meaning.’ So what do you worship? Is it your career, money, sex, power, clothes, food, another person, possessions? The list of things we can worship goes on and on. And often we fail to realize that we truly cannot rely on any of these things to deliver meaning to our lives. Eventually the shine wears off. Eventually they disappoint.

But there is one worship that always delivers, and that is the worship of God. On that first Christmas there were gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. A beloved song tells us that a little boy played his drum for Jesus. Yet, while there are so many things that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph could have used that Holy Night, the angels chose to simply worship the Son of God with their light and their song. Can’t you just hear their voices singing “glory to God in the highest”?

God wants to fill us with His love, peace, and calm during this season of Hope. And He isn’t asking us to “shop” for a fancy gift in return. All we need to do is be like the angels and simply worship Him. Worship Him in your private prayer and worship Him publicly. Say “Merry Christmas.” Share your God story with someone at the coffee shop. Sing along with the praise music in your home, your car, and on your walks or at the gym! Add to your vocabulary words and phrases like, “Praise God,” “Amen,” “Alleluia,” and “Blessings on your day!” The opportunities for us to worship God with others are endless.

Unlike worldly pursuits that demand our attention, God does not. He is the gentle voice in our hearts that calls us to Him, and we can miss the opportunity in the clamor of life. Perhaps, the innkeeper missed his opportunity that Holy Night when he sent the tired family away as they sought shelter. This Advent season, let’s not be the innkeeper who misses the opportunity.

Instead, let us worship like the angels. Praise God, For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matt 12:34), And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:13-14)

When God knocks at the door of our hearts, let us lay down our pride, anger, hurt, and addictions and give Him the glory. This Advent season let us join hearts to thank God for the gift of Jesus as the angels did, and simply worship Him.

Alleluia!