Yesterday someone reminded me of the informal Christmas truce that took place one year during World War I. Gradually the soldiers on both sides set aside their conflict, and moved into No Man's Land to sing together, embrace each other, and exchange gifts and addresses.
But only a few days later the conflict resumed again, as if Christmas had never happened. The following year the Generals made sure there was no repetition of the Christmas Truce by ordering the big guns to shell the front lines all through the Christmas period.
Christmas is indeed a time for great celebrations. But if you are one of the many folk that celebrate only because everyone else is celebrating, then perhaps you might like to consider the magnitude of the gift that Jesus offers each person - even you.
He offers you a life with him - forever. He offers to live this life with you, in you, for you. He offers you peace and release from guilt, shame, conflict, division, and hate. Instead he offers you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Open your arms, and say 'Yes' to the Christmas Baby - God himself.
The gifts we give each other only add to our celebrations.
The gifts that God gives us are the reasons for our celebrations.
Those celebrations are not a twelve-day wonder, but last forever.
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