The night Jesus was born an angel appeared to some nearby shepherds and told them about Jesus being born in Bethlehem and how the sign would be a baby wrapped in strips of cloths and lying in a manger.  The story doesn’t end there.  Luke continues:

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

It is hard to fathom what it must have been like for those shepherds.  It was super exciting!  First the good news of great joy for all people, the news of the birth of the Savior and him lying in a manger.  That was followed up with the visit from the angelic choir praising God.  It is exactly what is meant by the expression, emotional mountaintop. 

But notice what comes next:  “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’” (Luke 2:15)

The shepherds didn’t just sit around and bask in their good feelings.  They immediately took appropriate action!   The next verse says, “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” (Luke 2:16)

There is an example there for us to follow.  There is a sense in which the whole Christmas season is a spiritual mountaintop.  (There is also a sense in which every worship gathering is a spiritual high point.)  I have observed that sometimes we are tempted to bask in the glory of those times but then not take appropriate action!  Think about it…  Have you ever “enjoyed the sermon” then neglected to apply it to your life?   The next time, you have a spiritual high point, hurry off and do the appropriate thing (whatever that is).