Vs. 14 “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace
to men and women whom
His favor rests.”

If you have ever participated in a Passover Seder, you may remember that the youngest boy asks this question. The answer is simple. This night is special because we remember how God saved us. We remember how God brought us up out of the house of bondage, out of the land of slavery.

Tonight is special because like the Jews we remember how God saved us, how God saves all people.  Instead of ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, God sent us His Son, Jesus.  He sent Jesus to set us free from the bonds of death, to release us from our habits, our prejudices, and our sins that enslave us.  That is why this night is so special, because God so loved the world, you and me, that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have life everlasting.

Tonight is a special night, yet I have received countless times an email that implies that this night, this Christmas is more special than last Christmas because of September 11^th.  The email is a litany that compares this Christmas to past Christmas.

Allow me to share a portion of it:

Last Christmas, we were lighting candles to decorate.
This Christmas, we are lighting candles to commemorate.

Last Christmas, we were placing wreaths on the doors of our homes.
This Christmas, we are placing wreaths on the graves of our heroes.

Last Christmas, the people we idolized wore football, basketball and baseball uniforms.  This Christmas, the people we idolize wear police, firefighters and military uniforms.

Last Christmas, we were thinking about all the things we didn't have.
This Christmas, we are thinking about all the things we do have.

Last Christmas, we paid lip service to the real meaning of the holidays.
This Christmas, we are paying homage to it.

The litany continues indicating many other ways that this Christmas is different than Christmases past.  You can read the complete list by going to our "Thought for the Week" page.

I can only hope and pray:

That there is some truth in this litany;

That September 11th is not just another day of infamy;

That Americans have awoken to the eternal truth of God’s incarnate Word, Jesus.

While it is obvious that September 11th has awakened our patriotism, I question if it has made us better patriots.  Since September 11th we have flown our flags with greater pride and frequency.  We have sung our national anthem and God Bless America with greater enthusiasm and passion.  But aside from these public displays of patriotism, have we become better Americans?

What have you done to insure the rights of others?  What have you done to help the underprivileged in their pursuit of happiness? What have you done to guarantee justice for all?  Have you stopped getting paid or paying employees under the table?  Have you shown more tolerance of others on the check-out line? Have you become less offensive in the way you drive your car?  In the way you treat others? Have you become a better everyday American?

It is easy to wave the American flag and cheer on America.  Just like it's easy: To cheer on Jesus at Christmas time; To light up your home with decorations; To sing carols proclaiming joy to the world but it is a completely different story to live for Christ.

Are you here tonight to cheer on Christ’s birth or to have Christ born in your life, your heart, in your mind, in your living?

God has done everything to make this night special, now it is up to you and me to determine just how special this night will be by our response.

The birth of Jesus was meant to bring forth a birth of reverence, servanthood, holiness, and prayer. The birth of Jesus requires more than a response of,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all on whom his favor rests.”

The birth of Jesus requires a willingness to go where God leads you.  It requires an opening of your heart, a longing to learn, a desire to give and a zeal for Jesus.

This Christmas may be more special than last because of the events of September 11^th but it is my prayer is that next Christmas will be more special than this Christmas, not because of some horrific atrocity but because you and I made an intentional decision to not just cheer the birth of Christ, but to revere it.  To not just remember the birth of Christ, but to experience His birth.  To not just prayer for peace on earth, but to be instruments of Jesus' peace on earth everyday.

Why is this night more special than any other night?  You tell me and while you are at it, tell the world.