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Luke 2
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In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
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(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
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And everyone went to his own town to register.
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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.
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He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
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While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
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and 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.
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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
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An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
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But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
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Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[1] the Lord.
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This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
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Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
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"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
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When 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."
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So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
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When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
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and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
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But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
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The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
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On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
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When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

According to tradition, a Christmas song once brought peace to a battlefield. It happened on Christmas Eve during the Franco-German War (1870-1871) as the two sides faced each other in their trenches.

A French soldier jumped up and began singing "O Holy Night." The surprised German soldiers did not fire. Instead, one of them stepped forward to sing "From Heaven Above To Earth I Come."

For a brief time at least, peace on earth prevailed and goodwill was shared among men whose job it was to kill each other.

Think about the words of "O Holy Night" and see how they can bring hostilities to a halt. "Long lay the world in sin and error pining." Who knows about the world's ills better than soldiers who are facing the consequences of war, killing, and death?

"A thrill of hope" is what those men needed in the darkness of that winter night. Hope is what "the dear Savior's birth" provides. Because of Him the "weary world rejoices."

Even though we may not be engaged in physical combat, we all face the battles of everyday life. We can let the peace of that holy night—the night of our dear Savior's birth—reign in our hearts the whole year through. —JDB


O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. —Dwight

God gave us His Son to give us His peace.

I read several years ago about a woman who hurriedly purchased 50 Christmas cards without looking at the message inside. She quickly signed and addressed all but one, and then dropped them in a mailbox. Just imagine her dismay when later she glanced inside the one unmailed card and read these words:


This card is just to say
A little gift is on the way.
No doubt there were 49 people wondering what happened to their presents.

How different was God's promise to us! Many years before the Savior was born, the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah, saying, "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). And in verse 6 of chapter 9 we read, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given." Did God keep His word? Indeed He did! Galatians 4:4 states, "When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son."

On this special day, as we commemorate the birth of Christ, let's thank God that He meant what He said. He not only promised, but He also gave. "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15). —RWD


On Christmas morning long ago
Into this world of sin and woe
The blessed Savior came;
God's wondrous gift of love was He,
God's gift to lost humanity—
O glory to His name! —Staples

No gift is more needed by a dying world than a living Savior.



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For The Younger Generation