A Wonderful Time To Be Born A Wonderful Time To Be Born
When Denise was growing up, Christmas was a doubleheader for her. Because her birthday is January 1st, she celebrated Christmas right along wit her birthday. She has never had a complaint about when her birthday is...mostly because she couldn't change it. She complains very little about it actually.
If I had had that birth date as a kid, I would have taken advantage of every year by asking for a gift that would be too much for just Christmas - but not for Christmas and my birthday. I think it's just neat to have a birthday at a time when the entire world seems to be celebrating - not Denise's birthday, obviously - but it's just the best time of year! I think it's a wonderful time to be born.
On this Christmas Day, I want to invite us to consider an exciting possibility - that we have a Christmas birthday for the rest of our life. Obviously, we can't change the day we were physically born - we showed up without being consulted on the date. But it can be a day that we reflect on the holiday and recommit ourselves to the One whose day we are celebrating…His birthday…Christmas Day. The day we celebrate Jesus being born.
In the Charlie Brown Christmas special, poor Charlie tries everything to put some meaning into the holiday. Nothing works until that classic scene where Linus walks out with his blanket to center stage. The spotlight hits him and he begins to quote from the Bible. Linus recites Luke 2:11-14. "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be
to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Linus seemed to know the passage well enough that it became his personal testimony of the Saviors birth. It is almost as if Linus knew that a Savior had been born for him. He was right, a Savior had been born for him, and us too.
I would like to, for just a moment, make that first-person singular. "A Savior has been born to ME." And would you, for just a moment, walk from the humble manger, into the garden where the Savior pled to the Father for our behalf. Christmas is not just His birth, but the start of His entire like, His mission as our Savior, my Savior.
I can't think of a better day to recommit ourselves to our Savior than Christmas...His day…and the start of a New Year. Merry Christmas to all of you.