“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

Luke 2:20

The celebrations may be over but Christmas isn’t. Christmas was just the beginning. Having seen Jesus the shepherds “let loose” as it says in The Message. There was no holding back. They returned to their jobs and their responsibilities with a radically different attitude. They may have gone back to being shepherds but they weren’t the same men. The joy of the first Christmas had changed them.

It should be no different for us. Christmas is just the beginning. It should start in December and then continue through the whole year. When we return to work after the holidays, we should be unlike the people we were before December 25th. There should be no holding back. No matter what your vocation, go back to your job with a radically different attitude. You can’t be the same man or woman you were before. If you’ve seen Jesus then you should return glorifying and praising God for all the things you’ve seen and heard.

Of course it’s possible that you didn’t see Jesus this Christmas. Don’t despair. It’s never too late for an encounter with the Saviour. You can visit with Him at any time. It was “after Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea” (Matthew 2:1) that Magi from the east came searching for the One who had been born king of the Jews. When they found Him “they bowed down and worshiped him” Matthew 2:11. You can do the same. It’s never too late to complete the journey. So make a careful search. Continue the pursuit. Don’t stop looking until you find Him. And when you come to Him be sure to bow down and worship Him.