Merry Christmas To All

Luke 2:4-20
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
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."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Here we are at the brink of Christmas Eve. For most who are not Christians, it is a time of rest and sharing gifts, parties, and spending money that they may or may not have. But for Christians it is the holiest of times of the year. Today we find ourselves living in a time that has our nation calling for all to be tolerant of others, even to the point that we would keep our thoughts to ourselves. As a Christian, I cannot.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Christ child, the Messiah that had so long been prayed for. The Romans had shown the true cruelty that was in their heart. They had allowed their own morality to be twisted and perverted to the point that the Jews were beginning to be objects to torture and mess with at will. Even the soldiers were allowed to have Jews pack their equipment as they marched from place to place.

However, at long last the announcement comes. The one whom the people of God have been waiting for has finally come. But notice who the royal announcement was given to. It was the lowly shepherds out side the town of Bethlehem. Those shepherds were watching sheep from which would come the same unblemished lambs that would be used as sacrifices in the temple. Yes, the angels came to the shepherds to show that God was reachable by all men, that Jesus came to save us all and not just the rich, the privileged, the aristocracy of life.

The best part, though, is that these shepherds were about to loose their jobs. I've always wondered why the shepherds would walk off and leave these creatures who they had taken responsibility for. Why would they risk loosing these precious lambs to wondering off, being stolen, or even being killed and eaten by the wild animals? They left because they realized that the perfect Lamb of God had arrived. They left the sheep of the field to watch over "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."

My prayer for us all is this, that as we celebrate the birth of the Christ child, Jesus, that we experience it even more. I pray that in the midst of all the paper, the lights, the food, the singing, the gifts, and the trees, that we all experience the coming of the Christ child in our own lives. Jesus came to take our offense of sin as His own, to pay the price for that sin, and offer us eternal life in return. This Christmas I pray that you will join me in making a difference in someone's life. This Christmas look for the opportunity that God is guiding you into, to share His message of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy that is offered only through His Son, Jesus, the reason for the season.

May the gift of the Christ Child be real in your life. May His message be heard and accepted by more souls because of the overflowing joy in our lives this Christmas, and every day He gives us. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A LIFE OF GOD'S HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and most of all LOVE!