"O Little Town of Bethlehem"
"How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in."
On that silent night so long ago, in that little town of Bethlehem, God entered the world in a quiet, unheralded appearance as a human baby. On that silent night He became one of us and identified totally with the human race. Ultimately he would experience our fears, face our anxieties, be challenged by our questions, and taste our frustrations. And finally he would die for our sin and then rise to give us new life.
During this glorious season, let us remember that Christmas is more than just an event that happened in the past. It still happens today. Just as surely as God made an appearance on that silent night so long ago, in that little town of Bethlehem, still today God enters our lives, our world, and our time. As we open our eyes in faith we will see God in our midst; touching lives, supporting our weaknesses, sustaining our pain, and surrounding us with His love.
We pray this Christmas will once again be a time when you reflect upon the Bethlehem scene. Today, we have the opportunity to personally accept the Holy Child; to welcome Him into our hearts and lives and to experience the truth that Christmas is more than just an event that happened in the past. It is truly a time to celebrate the fact that God is right here, right now. Perhaps that's what Mary discovered on that silent night so long ago, in that little town of Bethlehem, as she pondered all these things in her heart.
(Source: Pastor Bill Roberts, Sr. Pastor, Christ Chapel, Woodbridge, VA)
