What does it mean to celebrate Christ's birth? Is it just a matter of decorating Christmas trees and streets and houses, exchanging beautiful gifts, wearing new clothes, going to fancy parties, or singing beautiful hymns? It might be all this, but Christ's birth means far more than this.
We are celebrating not the birth of a normal person but the birth of our Lord. The true celebration is when the Lord is born in our hearts for real.
No doubt the place where Christ was born was a chaotic and smelly grotto full of animals, but when the Lord was born there, the place changed and became a most special and holy place, a place which believers visit from around the world, people whose lives have been changed by his birth.
Christ took on a physical nature like ours so that he would feel with us and help us, weak humans that we are (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15).
Christ was not welcomed into any home in Bethlehem. The Lord tells us not to be like those who did not accept him into their homes. "I do not need your houses," he says, "I want to be born in your hearts. It is the only way your hearts will find secure joy and peace."
The heavenly army sang, "Glory to God in heaven, and peace on earth." Yes, finally peace came to the earth! The earth was under a curse, without God's peace, but through the birth of Christ, peace will be restored to earth. Not the world's fake peace, but a real, deep, and lasting peace. Are we ready to receive the Prince of Peace and live for him who gave us his peace (John 14:27)?
May God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
- 14 DECEMBER -