What are we celebrating?

We Christians often get angry at America for turning Christmas into a big commercial holiday. We get mad because everyone says "Happy Holidays" and "Holiday tree." It bothers us that Christ has been totally taken out of Christmas and replaced with Santa and shopping. "It's the season of giving!"

But are we really celebrating the true meaning of Christmas ourselves?

We all know what Christmas is about. We know the Christmas story. We've heard it a thousand times and probably can tell it by heart! But I know at least I don't think about it much during the weeks coming up to Christmas. I'm thinking about presents I making for people, shopping I have to do, and presents I might be getting. We think about decorating the house, making the food, and seeing friends and family. But do we think at all about the miracle that happened on Christmas night?

On Christmas morning we wake up early, anxious to open presents. In our family, we always read the Christmas story before we open the presents. But I confess that sometimes, I can barely sit through it!

You people know what I'm talking about.

Take some time this Christmas season to think about the miracle that happened that night.

Luke 2:1-20 (New International Version)

¹In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ²(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³And everyone went to his own town to register.

⁴So 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. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.