Friday; July 25
Okay, here is your first warning – we are only five months
away from Christmas. It is hard to
believe in the midst of the heat of the summer, but many people’s favorite time
of the year is approaching. Now, I
realize that with today’s modern conveniences we don’t need to make plans as
far into the future as we used to, but it’s still kind of fun to think
about.
Most modern people are familiar with the background for the
Christmas season – it is when a lot of people celebrate the birth of Jesus, the
Christ. Now, while this has become a
tradition, the truth is that we don’t know when Jesus was born. It could have just as easily been on July 25
as December 25. While that might not be what
the retailers who make a lot of money during the holiday season want to hear, I
think it is kind of cool to consider. We
don’t have to wait until late December to celebrate Jesus coming to earth. We don’t have to cram one of the great
declarations of all time, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace
among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:14) into a couple weeks – we can
proclaim it anytime without worrying about it being out of season. We can read the stories from Matthew and Luke
at any time and cherish God’s gift to mankind.
We can learn from the faith and faithfulness of Mary and Joseph
throughout the year.
As July 25 comes and goes, let’s not fret about what we are getting
Aunt Flo for her gift or whether we are serving turkey or goose for Christmas;
but let’s not miss out in reflecting on blessing the Son brought into our
world. Any day can be a great day for
honoring the birth of our Lord and Savior.
Think About It!