Throughout my ministry, Christmas Eve was always a high point of the
year, and some years, I put a lot of effort into developing a themed
script, illustrated with projected slides. After the children portrayed
the nativity story, we would light candles symbolizing Jesus as the
light of the world and our task to represent Him as lights in the world.
Then we would sing "Silent Night".
So, early in December, one of
my jobs was to buy enough candles for the 120 - 140 people in
attendance. So there I was, one year, checking out at the grocery store
with a full display box containing a dozen boxes of birthday candles.
"You want all these?" The clerk asked.
"Yes, they're for a
Christmas Eve Service," I said.
"Oh," she replied, "it isn't for
someone's birthday."
"Yes, it is," I said. "It's Christ's
birthday!"
Then a fellow behind me in the line said, "Well, you
haven't got enough!"
Imagine a birthday cake with more than 2000
candles!
How amazing it is that after 2000 years, we still
celebrate Jesus' birthday. But how easy it is to get so caught up in our
Christmas traditions and busyness that we forget the fact that Christmas
is Jesus' birthday. Imagine holding a big birthday party and not
remembering to invite the birthday person! To consciously include
Christ, what gift will we give Him? Will it be to forgive someone that
we've held a grudge against? Or maybe to extend unconditional love
towards someone whom we find it hard to love? Or perhaps we might even
pledge obedience to Jesus, who lived and died to pay the penalty for our
sins, and rose again to give us eternal life, a relationship with God
that will go on forever. Let's make this a special Christmas and truly
celebrate Jesus' birthday. It could even include a cake with a white
candle and singing "Happy birthday, dear Jesus!"
Prayer: Our
birthdays are always special times of celebration, Lord, and Your
birthday is an extra-special one. May we accord to You all the honour
due unto Your holy name! Amen.
Robin Ross
Mission,
British Columbia, Canada
Thanks to
PresbyCan Daily Devotional
