The Day After Christmas
Monday December 26, 2016
Christmas is a family holiday. People make a special effort to return home and be with family at Christmas. For those of us who are unable to gather with family at Christmas, is it still possible to celebrate a full and rich Christmas without being fake? Joseph and Mary teach us that it is possible.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:1-7 NIV)
Joseph and Mary were displaced at a crucial time in their lives. In a stable - a rough cave in the side of a hill where animals were sheltered for the night - they made ready and welcomed Jesus into the world. Other guests came, shepherds, who were directed by a Heavenly Host of Angels to where they were. Mary and Joseph might not have been where they wanted to be but, together with the shepherds, the animal shelter was turned into a wondrous place of worship.
At Christmas, we celebrate Jesus who chose displacement from heaven to come to earth to redeem us from the power of sin. Until the fulfillment of time and His invitation to come to His Father's house, Jesus will be with us wherever we may be on this earth.
This Christmas we need to look at our hearts before we look at our circumstances and see the amazing guest who shares this season with us. Life may not be as perfect as we would like it to be and we may be aware of our struggles, but, Jesus is here with us! Let's be at home with Jesus this Christmas season as we celebrate His birth.
Thank You Jesus for coming to be with us in our imperfect world. We want to make room for you in our lives and share this day and this Christmas season together with You.
©2016 Partners in Hope
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