Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today.  Exodus 14:13

These are the words of Moses to the Israelites when they saw the Egyptian army pursuing them. How are these words relevant as we contemplate what it means that Christ is born?

Your Little Ones, Dear Lord  

Your little ones, dear Lord, are we,
And come your lowly bed to see;
Enlighten every soul and mind,
That we the way to your may find. 

With songs we hasten you to greet
And kiss the ground before your feet.
Oh, blessed hour, Oh, sweetest night
That gave you birth, our soul’s delight.

Oh, draw us wholly to you, Lord,
And to us all your grace accord;
True faith and love to us impart,
That we may hold you in our heart.

                       Hans A. Brorson

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. Psalm 148:13

We will simply enjoy this celebration of the joy of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ. Our celebrations and family gatherings beautifully obey the spirit of his command to love God above all and to love the people in our lives.

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” ³ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ” ⁷ Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸ Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” ⁹ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹ On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Matthew 2:1-12

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke 2:15-20