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One of the more subtle consequences of our fallen-ness is the way we get bored with what is unspeakably glorious. You've heard of 'compassion fatigue'. Well this is 'glory fatigue'

John Piper points this out in one of his books. He imagines someone going to the Alps for their holidays. On the first day they get up at five and stand in hushed awe as the glimmering sunrise illuminates the mountains with a sheen of warm iridescence. It is one of the most moving experiences of their lives. But by day three the curtains are shut and they are watching television!

It seems to me that at Christmas you can often see the same phenomenon. The story is more spectacular than any sunrise. Almighty God embracing the frailty of a human nature. And all for our sakes. It is life-changing, world-building stuff. Yet, spectacular as it is, it is also familiar. We know it and we know it well. As a result, while the herald angels may be singing their hearts out, maybe it’s been a while since we, the church, gave so much 'glory to the new born king'.

My thesis is simple: if that is the case, then something is wrong somewhere. Surely it is our business to feel the glory of it all – and not just at Christmas time, but all the time.

Now, of course, you can't just turn this on. Obviously not. But that doesn't mean we are free to turn back to the Argos catalogue and get on with our shopping. I started by pointing out that this 'glory fatigue' is part of our fallen-ness. That should shock us. That means it is morally wrong. It also means it is something God needs to save us from. What we have here then is something to repent of, something that only the blood of Jesus can atone for, something that needs to be the focus of earnest prayer until we are delivered from its ice-cold grip.

So, as Chrismas approaches, here is a plea to work hard to seek the grace to feel what those angels felt.