A Multitude of People

   In reading in Luke 1, the prelude to the Christmas Story, I found these words referring to Zechariah, the priest and father of John the Baptist:

"Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense." 

   I was stuck by the term "the whole multitude of the people". What were they doing? What were they seeking?

   The incense represented the prayers of the people to God, and the priest designated for the duty on that day, burned the sweet smelling mixture on the altar as act of bringing those prayers into God's presence.

   I imagine that there were as many different prayers as there were people outside the Temple area that particular day, and I can't help but think of our Christmas Eve service tonight at church.

   People like to come. They make it a priority to worship in this way before the Holy Birthday arrives, and the church is not big enough to handle all of them at one service. There will be a multitude, for sure.

   People will bring a multitude of attitudes and situations into that room tonight. There will be hurting people, some even desperate. There will be joyful people, happy with their lives and grateful to God for blessings unnumbered. There will be folks there with the "I really don't want to be here" thought and those with the "this is what we do, it is tradition" thought.

   Many people, many thoughts, many prayers and many attitudes. Not just a multitude, but individuals coming through those doors, but God sees and knows each one. He sees hearts, and He desires that all truly worship.

   I will be a part of all that multitude.

   From Luke 2:

   "Suddenly a vast, heavenly army  appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory  to God in the highest,and on earth peace among people  with whom he is pleased!”

   And I want to be one with whom God is pleased, and so my prayer is "God help me to shut out the affairs of the world, and let me worship you in Spirit and Truth", tonight and every night.

   Now that will be preparation for real Christmas worship.