The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord."

Luke 3:9-11, NIV (1978)

What a day of rejoicing that was! The shepherds of the field rejoiced, the angels among the Heavenly hosts rejoiced, and all of the people of God who heard the news would rejoice. That rejoicing lasts unto this very day, for every believer continues to rejoice at the thought of this good news - a Savior was born! I realize that not everyone will celebrate in the same way, and that's okay. No one in our day and age knows the actual day of the year that our Savior was born, and we are not commanded to celebrate the day at any rate. 

But we are to celebrate the good news, and how could we not? I love this time of year, for it has become a time when people actually give a bit of thought to the reason that we have hope. Mary and Joseph were told to name Him Jesus, for this very name means, "He saves". We sometimes look around at this wicked old world and wonder if there is any hope left. But there is, of course, because of the same news of great joy that was given 2,000 years ago when our Savior came into this world.

Today our family, like yours, will celebrate. We will give and receive gifts to those we love. We will have a meal that is something far out of the ordinary. Most people will have most of the day off from work and school and all of the other activities that men must busy themselves with. We will have Christmas Day parades and all sorts of Christmas specials on TV. We will even sings special Christmas songs to commemorate the day. All of these things are good, for this day needs to be a day of celebration.

But as we celebrate, let us not forget to keep in mind the reason for our having set aside this day in the first place. It is because our Savior really was born! He really is the Son of God, and He really did live a life that was the perfect ministry to God and men. He really was nailed to the cross because of our sins, and He really was raised again to give every person who would live from that day on a hope that they too could rise with Him on that Day when He comes again to save those who have believed in Him and who have served Him.

I love Christmastime for it has always been a day of rejoicing for me and my family. I know that I focus too much on the physical side of things, as I do on every other day of the year. Again, I know we are not commanded to celebrate on the 25th of December, but we are to celebrate the day that He came into this world because it has always been a day of good news of great joy for all the people. It is not merely the reason for the season: When combined with the rest of the good news of His life and death, His burial and His resurrection, it is the reason for our lives!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas this year. It truly is a day of good news of great joy for all the people. and we are so blessed because our Savior was born!