CHRISTmas Can Be Overlooked - December 23 Readings: Luke 2:1-7

 

 

25 Days of Christmas

On the twenty-third day of Christmas, my Bible said to me...many missed the beauty and joy of the birth of Christ because they were so wrapped up in the busyness of their own lives. 

Today's Reading: Luke 2:1-7            

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Through the Bible Readings: Zechariah 1-2, Revelation 13, Psalm 145:17–21, Proverbs31:10–11 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional:  Missing Christmas      

Christmas is a wonderful holiday, a beautiful celebration.  But it has its enemies.  We all remember Scrooge, who looked at Christmas and called it a humbug, who wished that everyone who celebrates Christmas would be boiled in his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.  We remember the Grinch, the conniving schemer who tried to steal Christmas.  There are the Herods, who try to destroy Christmas. 

But there is an enemy far more prevalent, far more dangerous, far more destructive to the celebration of Christmas than Herod ever was, than Scrooge’s humbug or the Grinch’s schemes.  This enemy of Christmas will steal the heart right out of the holiday.  This is what infected the people of Bethlehem.  They were not out to hurt anyone.  These were not evil people.  They did not hate the baby.  They just had no room in their lives for him.  There was no room at the inn.  They were busy. 

Think of the quietness of the first Christmas.  It was celebrated with joy by Joseph and Mary and a few shepherds who came in from the country.  They rejoiced, but in a quiet, gentle way.  There were no parties, no shopping, no gifts exchanged (remember, the Magi came later), no meals to prepare, no programs to attend – none of the things that our schedules are jammed within the month of December. There was just a baby.  All they did was rejoice that a baby had been born. 

Not that there is anything wrong with concerts, with gift exchanges, with family meals, and all of the activities that ornament the season.  They can be wonderful.  They can build memories, and bring great joy.  But remember, all you need for a real celebration of Christmas is the baby.  All you need is Jesus.  The other activities can help us focus on him.  But they can steal our focus as well. 

Can you imagine if you had been one of those people in the inn?  Christmas happened and they slept through it.  The son of God was born, his only crib a manger, and they missed it.  Because they were evil?  No, no more than anyone else.  Because they were hostile?  Not that we know of - there's no evidence anyone in Bethlehem was mean to Mary and Joseph.  No, they were just living their lives and doing their thing.  And they missed the celebration of one of history’s greatest days. 

The spirit of Bethlehem still lives today.  Often, the activities of Christmas become the focus of our lives.  We get wrapped up in shopping, in baking, in parties and presents, and decorations and Christmas becomes a time of stress, not joy.  It becomes a time of anxiety, instead of Peace on earth.  Nothing numbs the joys of Christmas like the weariness of a schedule too full, feet too tired, and mind too full.  When this happens, we forget the baby.  There is no room in our hearts for him. 

Scrooge told Marley that he was a good man of business.  Marley responded, 

“Business?  Mankind was my business.  The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance and benevolence, were, all, my business.  The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” 

Then he spoke these words, ignored in modern versions of the story, 

“Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode?  Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?”

In Bethlehem that day, there was no great meal, no pretty decorations, no presents under the tree.  But there was Jesus.  And in the final analysis, all you need to celebrate Christmas is him.  The Baby.  Jesus Christ. Christmas is Christ and Christ alone. 

So, this Christmas, let us celebrate him.  Don’t let the grinch of busyness steal the joy of Christmas.  Worship the baby.  

“For, unto us is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord.” 

Father, help me every day to remember you, to think of you, to keep my eyes and my focused on you. May I never be like those who missed Christmas. 

Think and Pray :

Do you find yourself too busy this Christmas to take time to worship Christ? 
Are you letting the things of the world - the trappings of Christmas - crowd out the meaning of the season? 

Carol of the Day: 

O little town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary

And gathered all above

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love

O morning stars together

Proclaim the holy birth

And praises sing to God the King

And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us, we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

Be born to us today

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell

O come to us, abide with us

Our Lord Emmanuel