In the beginning you count months, then weeks, then finally the days. It's the countdown to a birth and it can't come soon enough for some. It consumes your thoughts, this waiting and anticipating and any-day-now for sure. You lay out the special clothes and you eat differently and sleep differently and it's special, this one day that you will celebrate.
We are marking days on a chalkboard and I think sometimes we mistake the excitement and anticipation for joy. We live like it all centers around the birth and like all the joy will happen in that one glorious moment, when the baby cries.
Or when the wrapping paper flies.
Either way, neither of those events promises real joy, everlasting joy. Either way, you can't wrap all your hope up in that one moment.
Because the Prince of Peace
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - {Isa 9:6 NKJV}
didn't come to bring peace to the earth, but a sword.
Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. - {Mat 10:34 NKJV}
A sword. A division based on your decision, and when His word divides it sometimes cuts right through any celebration of birth. Through the thickness of blood and skin and thicker than water is the tie that really binds us, keeping us bound to the tree where our lives are laid down, day after day.
We'll all gather for the birth, but the real celebration is in the sinners gathered at His cross. The contrite and repentant ones who rejoice that not only was He born, but that in a twisted turn of events that baby died for us. And now we all live for Him.
The best place to gather this Christmas is not around a tree that may have pagan roots, but around a tree where Redemption hangs for all pagans and sinners.
That's really all I want for Christmas - for us all to gather there.
Linking with Emily.