The reason why many people do not connect with God is not because they reject God, but because they simply are not paying attention. God speaks softly in this world – not shouting at us or overwhelming us with might – in order to leave us free to pay attention to God or not. But this means that unless we attune our spirits to God, we can fail to notice God’s voice within the din and distractions of the world around us.

Christmas is a good example of this. How often are people so caught up in the swirl of seasonal festivities that they do not hear God’s Word in the midst of it all? Yet God continues to come to us, seeking to awaken our hearts to the touch of God’s Spirit.

On Christmas Eve, the most ordinary of people in the most ordinary of places – shepherds in a field – heard a chorus of angels. May we be receptive to how God is reaching to us with grace and saving power today!

Sunday’s Scripture Reading:
Luke 2:1-20

About the Author

Dr. David A. Palmer has been the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of Kent since 1995. He has a B.A. from Wittenberg University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. A native of Wooster, Ohio, he has served three other churches in east Ohio before coming to Kent. He and his wife, Mavis, have three children.