Wednesday, December 5, 2005
Twelfth Christmas Day
Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
YULETIDE TREASURE
At our house this 12th Day of Christmas, the last of the Christmas gifts is given and received. No matter what the shape of the small package, one thing I know -- it won't be a lottery ticket. Some feel lottery tickets make splendid gifts. We are inclined to see them like being given a nicely wrapped package that proves to be empty. (Or contains a poisonous snake -- since this seemingly harmless "entertainment" has ensnared all too many in the deadly sin of greed.) Some other "Yuletide Treasure" for me, thank you.
By the way, as we sing our final "Fah-la-la-la, la-la-la" of this Christmas season -- what did the original carolers of "Deck the Halls" refer to when they "sang of Yuletide treasure"? Gifts? The decorations with which they were decking the halls? Seasonal food and drink? (I say "seasonal" because it seems that "Deck the Halls," strictly speaking, was not originally a Christmas carol.) I'm sure I don't know, and I've "googled" it to death.
But it doesn't really matter, does it? We know what our "Yuletide Treasure" is, don't we? And it is nothing seasonal, nothing we pack away until next year, nothing that will break or wear out or become obsolete. The Lord Himself is our portion (Ps 119:57) and with Him we have received forgiveness of sin, Christ's own righteousness, right-standing with God, peace of conscience, the privilege of prayer, the promise of heaven, and comfort in tribulation.
Why don't you sit down today and write out as full a list as you can of all the wondrous gifts that are yours because the Son of God was born into your family that night in Bethlehem? And then, do what your mother taught you. Write a "Thank You" note. Do it from the heart and you won't need to affix postage. You can send it off to Him with life and lip every day -- 'til Christmas (or Christ Himself) comes again. 