“And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” Luke 2:18-20 (KJV)
Today’s Anniston Star headlines proclaim a bland story about a local high school getting a new building. Then there is the story about Toyota projecting its first loss ever. Next is a story about a couple of local celebrities. One is changing her career and the other has died. Finally, at the bottom of page one is a picture of some holly and a title: “The 12 Stories of Christmas.” It seems that in 1863, America’s mood was “tragic, depressed and, somehow, looking for hope in the future” and so Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his Christmas Bells, evidently to cheer up the nation.
Without being critical, I think it shows the mood of society toward the Christmas message. But then, it is not very different from that night when Christ was born. The young couple from Nazareth quietly slipped into Bethlehem and discovered that sleeping arrangements were scarce. The populace was more concerned with the imposed Roman taxation than about a traveler and his pregnant wife. Yet, out in the fields with the sheep some folks were awake and contemplating God’s handiwork in the starry sky. As a result, they were given God’s personal message of hope and joy. Because of their response, every generation since has been blessed and inspired.
Response is the right word. Christmas is a fact. Without Christ’s birth there would be no special holiday in December – no sales – no ham and turkey with all the trimmings – no gift-giving. But worst of all with out his birth, ministry, death, and resurrection there would be no hope and joy for a future. So, all who hear the Christmas story will respond to it in some fashion, but how they respond is the important thing.
Like the first century society, some will only wonder at the Christmas story. Like Mary, some will carefully consider all the aspects of the Christmas story privately and store them in their hearts. And like the shepherds, some will celebrate Christmas with exuberant praise and glory to God for “all the things that they had heard and seen.”
Dear Father, thank you for the birth of our Savior. Enable all who hear the good news of his birth to respond in faith and hope. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the important thing,