The Greatest Day
One day a Sunday school class was talking about the importance of the meaning of Easter. One little boy asked the teacher, “Is Easter the greatest day of the year?” Another little boy interrupted and said, “No, Christmas is. If it had not been for Christmas, there would not have been no Easter.”
A visiting English diplomat said, “Congratulations USA on the 4th of July—the second greatest day in your history.” He was then asked, “What is the greatest day in our history? He replied, December 25th. If there had been not December 25th—Christmas—there would be no 4th of July.”
The birth of Jesus at Christmas is the greatest news our world has ever heard. Christmas day celebrates the culmination of a lot of promises and prophesies from the Old Testament and set in motion a new kind of history for the future forever and ever and ever. The birth of Jesus makes possible our salvation, our impetus to live a Godly life, and the assurance that we can live forever for eternity. December 25th is the turning point in the history of mankind.
Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a way of life. Celebrating the birth of Jesus means that we celebrate everyday what He brings to us in life. Christmas is an attitude of life. It’s a gift that God gave us that keeps on giving every day of the year. Christmas is about Presence—not presents. Post December 25th is not the signal that Christmas is over—it announces a new beginning. My lifelong friend, Dr. Doug Newton, who died recently, wrote a poem that challenges me every year.
I had a jolting thought today,
As I put the Christmas things away.
For suddenly it dawned on me,
That Christmas isn’t a lovely tree,
With food, and gifts and games galore.
Christmas is a daily life,
Lived in the midst of a world of strife,
Meeting life’s events each day,
In a gracious generous, Christ-like way.
For peace on earth, good will to men,
Can only come in God’s great plan,
When we humbly trust Him day by day,
And let Him in us have His way.
He then to us Himself imparts,
And Christ is born in human hearts.
Christmas is once a year men say,
But I believe that Christmas can come each day.
We may physically put up the decorations and gifts, but I pray that the gifts of love, joy, peace, and hope that Jesus brings will not be “put up,” but will be “put on” to wear every day and our lives will “put out” the message of those gifts. The best way to live in 2025 is to live every day in obedient response to the Gift that God has given us at Christmas.
Don’t pack up Christmas and put it away! Live it every day!
