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Luke 2:8
(2:8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
(2:9) And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
(2:10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
(2:11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
(2:12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
(2:13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
(2:14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
As I sit here this morning I cannot help but think of the many years that I along with most everybody in the world have celebrated this event year after year. The countless gifts that have been exchanged. Sadly many, even in my own life, without even the least little bit of consideration given to the meaning behind this act of commemoration.
As I think back I honestly right now cannot remember most of those gifts that I gave and received. Though at the time of exchange they were focus of attention. The excitement of receiving those gifts did not hold up to the test of time. Time has a way of making those things old. Some within minutes after they are opened.
Here is an observational challenge for you. As you are putting the final touches on your Christmas dinner. Take a brief moment to look at where those gifts are now. Just a few short hours after the excitement of opening them. Some will have been pushed out of the way back under the tree. Some will be scattered around the room having been briefly used and put down to explore the next one. Perhaps one or two already scuffed up or broken. Maybe one on the counter the batteries already dead. Plugged into the nearest outlet recharging.
Have you ever thought at this moment that here is proof of how the greatest gift we have ever received makes all others pale in comparison. That, that singularly incomparable gift, delivered to us in a damp, almost cold, barely lit, smelly, building. Displayed in a simple wooden container. Is still just as meaningful as that day over two thousand years ago, that it was presented to us. That gift first displayed to us on a simple piece of wood. Was destined to show us how valuable it truly was when it was again displayed on a simple piece of wood, some thirty years later. 2000+ years later that gift can still be remembered. The significance of that gift so powerful it defies the ravages of time. Unaffected by anything that time can throw at it. Truly "The gift that keeps on giving".
My first thought on this gift is this, I received mine 45 years ago. To this day I remember that gift. I can still use it everyday, it is as easy to use today as it was the day I received it. Pieces of it have not worn out or broken off. It's power has not diminished. It's use, the simple remembrance of its reception, causes it's power to flow through me just as it did the day I received it.
I have received many gifts over the years but honestly the ones I can remember the easiest, I don't have any more. The more recent ones, none in the same condition that they were when I got them. Some reduced to little more than objects thrown up on some shelf of tucked into some drawer someplace. The side effect of getting old with time and losing their appeal.
If you take my challenge this year, as you see those gifts scattered about, think of the gift that started it all. Commemorated this day by those gifts around you. A simple gift that was laying on a simple piece of wood. That was destined to be display on another piece of wood. The action of that display showering the power of that display down on any who have received it. Do you still feel the power of that gift. You should.
Here is a truth behind that gift. Yes today is a celebration of that gift. Today is a day when we should be able to again easily remember that gift and feel the power of that gift in our lives. But you know, reality is we can feel that power everyday. By simply remembering the act of love that this gift represents.
(2:8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
(2:9) And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
(2:10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
(2:11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
(2:12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
(2:13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
(2:14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
As I sit here this morning I cannot help but think of the many years that I along with most everybody in the world have celebrated this event year after year. The countless gifts that have been exchanged. Sadly many, even in my own life, without even the least little bit of consideration given to the meaning behind this act of commemoration.
As I think back I honestly right now cannot remember most of those gifts that I gave and received. Though at the time of exchange they were focus of attention. The excitement of receiving those gifts did not hold up to the test of time. Time has a way of making those things old. Some within minutes after they are opened.
Here is an observational challenge for you. As you are putting the final touches on your Christmas dinner. Take a brief moment to look at where those gifts are now. Just a few short hours after the excitement of opening them. Some will have been pushed out of the way back under the tree. Some will be scattered around the room having been briefly used and put down to explore the next one. Perhaps one or two already scuffed up or broken. Maybe one on the counter the batteries already dead. Plugged into the nearest outlet recharging.
Have you ever thought at this moment that here is proof of how the greatest gift we have ever received makes all others pale in comparison. That, that singularly incomparable gift, delivered to us in a damp, almost cold, barely lit, smelly, building. Displayed in a simple wooden container. Is still just as meaningful as that day over two thousand years ago, that it was presented to us. That gift first displayed to us on a simple piece of wood. Was destined to show us how valuable it truly was when it was again displayed on a simple piece of wood, some thirty years later. 2000+ years later that gift can still be remembered. The significance of that gift so powerful it defies the ravages of time. Unaffected by anything that time can throw at it. Truly "The gift that keeps on giving".
My first thought on this gift is this, I received mine 45 years ago. To this day I remember that gift. I can still use it everyday, it is as easy to use today as it was the day I received it. Pieces of it have not worn out or broken off. It's power has not diminished. It's use, the simple remembrance of its reception, causes it's power to flow through me just as it did the day I received it.
I have received many gifts over the years but honestly the ones I can remember the easiest, I don't have any more. The more recent ones, none in the same condition that they were when I got them. Some reduced to little more than objects thrown up on some shelf of tucked into some drawer someplace. The side effect of getting old with time and losing their appeal.
If you take my challenge this year, as you see those gifts scattered about, think of the gift that started it all. Commemorated this day by those gifts around you. A simple gift that was laying on a simple piece of wood. That was destined to be display on another piece of wood. The action of that display showering the power of that display down on any who have received it. Do you still feel the power of that gift. You should.
Here is a truth behind that gift. Yes today is a celebration of that gift. Today is a day when we should be able to again easily remember that gift and feel the power of that gift in our lives. But you know, reality is we can feel that power everyday. By simply remembering the act of love that this gift represents.
