To adore means to regard with the utmost esteem, love, and respect; to give honor to. To cherish, delight in, prize. To treasure.
When I think of adoring Jesus at Christmastime—truly cherishing Him and regarding Him in love—my heart immediately thinks of experiencing Jesus through Scripture. As I’ve read the Bible over the years, weaving the words into my memory and wrapping them around my heart, certain verses have become so precious to me. They’ve come alive to me. I’m sure if I asked you to share a favorite verse or two, it might take just a moment, but then your eyes would light up or maybe tear up as a few special verses came to mind. During times of joy and sorrow, adoring Christ—seeing and worshiping Christ for who He truly is as we see Him in Scripture—has been a consistent anchor in my life.
Every time we open the Bible to study, we sow powerful seeds of encouragement and knowledge for our future-selves as well as our current-self. Treasures of knowledge and hope are internalized for future uncertainty and hard roads. It’s incredible how passages of Scripture I studied years ago will “pop” into my mind to haunt me in the best way. One day I was sitting in the quiet of the morning, feeling overwhelmed about my task list. I prayed out loud: “Jesus, I feel like my lists rule my life.” Immediately a verse popped into my mind: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace” (Colossians 3:15). It was the exact truth I needed. Thank you, Jesus! A passage from Colossians I studied over and over back in 2006 came to mind at just the right moment in the middle of a 2019 prayer. The power and pervasiveness of Jesus’s Word brings us to stand in awe of Him.
Scripture calls us to adoration, like kind reminders from an old friend. Do you have verses you come back to year after year? Here are a couple of passages I love that invite me into adoration.
Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Psalm 33:4-8
For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is trustworthy. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the Lord’s unfailing love. The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars, by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the water of the sea into a heap; He puts the depths into storehouses. Let the whole earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
And as we celebrate Jesus’s birth this Christmas season, here’s one of my favorites from Revelation, looking toward His triumphant return.
Revelation 19:11-13
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God.
Perhaps something weighs you down this Christmas or maybe for you this year it truly is a season of joy. In either case, I have learned firsthand that adoring Jesus through Scripture will bring hope to our hearts (for today and in the future), lead us with companionship and comfort, and will give us an eternal perspective.
I read this quote recently from Maggie Combs:
I’m going to put my nose in God’s Word and breathe in what is true, not to erase my emotions, but to process them under the gentle yoke of my Savior.
May I encourage you this Christmas to open your Bible, breathe in what is true, and anchor your heart by adoring Christ. Scripture helps us turn our eyes away from what may distract or dishearten and to look with adoration on Jesus.
This Christmas, may we “turn our eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, [the face that we see clearly through His Word!] and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
Merry Christmas!
