Morning Moments

Who really benefits from the celebration of Christmas?

So, here we are with this special day in celebration of the birth of a baby who will ultimately bring peace of earth and the message of his coming was to bring glad tidings of great joy.  Hmmm, very interesting!  Where is the peace?  Where is this great joy?  There are surface answers and substance answers, but the questions need to be address.

As far as benefiting from the celebration of Christmas today, the merchants certainly are recipients of financial benefit.  But in a democracy, the MERRY aspect of it certainly benefits the community, because of the spirit of giving, helping one another, doing things for others you often don't have time or resources to do.

Many churches benefits communities by choirs that perform cantatas, both in churches and in the public square (malls, halls, etc).  These are delightful and pleasant contributions to those who are musically inclined either by participating in an orchestra or choir or by the sound provided.  Most people enjoy pleasant music performed well.

Certainly the excited of the children benefit our society!  The children's eyes light up with the tree lights are turned on, or when they see decorations that indication Christmas is coming soon (whether or not the thought of Santa) is involved.  The children begin to look forward to something with great anticipation, and besides, they have been taught that "Santa" is making a list and checking it twice to see who has been naughty and who has been nice, which gives parents a little leverage in discipline.

The truth is that we could go on and on about how Christmas benefits the elderly when Carolers drop by to sing Christmas carols, not to mention nursing homes, hospitals, and on and on.

BUT HONESTLY, what other holiday celebrating ANYBODY'S birth has such an effect on so many people around the world?  And why is is so?  Could it be that underneath it all - way down in our heart of hearts - somewhere that no one can see - there is something (conscience) or someone (God's Spirit) tugging at us to at least show some respect for this BIRTH OF A BABY who became THE ONLY CHANCE for REAL PEACE in our world, and maybe it is time for us to understand that all of this celebrating is about something HE PROMISED HE would do one day, but until He DOES, will bring to you and me a PERSONAL PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING THAT KEEPS OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS ... I N   C H R I S T!    THAT'S IT!  THAT is the great benefit for all of us - PEACE NOW on the INSIDE and PEACE later on the OUTSIDE!   WOW!  Trust Him today for that PEACE!