We Need Christmas

Reading the new issue of The Lutheran Witness that came in the mail the other day I thought I would share a fantastic devotional insight that President Matthew Harrison put in his opening greeting.

On Christmas Day, 1534, Dr. Luther preached a brief sermon in his home (the large old monastery) to gathered family, friends and guests.  He concluded it with just what you and I need to hear today, all these years later.  He preached on the birth of Christ (Matthew 1; Luke 2).

We should learn our lesson well and earnestly ponder the great honor that has been bestowed

on us by Christ’s becoming a human being. For it is such a great honor, that even if one were an

angel, you would do well to wish that you were a human being, so that you could boast: My own

flesh and blood is greater than all the angels, and blessed is every creature that is a human being. 

God grant that we understand this, take it to heart and thank God for this great gift.  In addition,

we should diligently study the example of Christ, what he manifested with his first advent to this

earth in that he suffered for our sake, so that we too do our best to learn from him how to suffer. The

Lord of all lords becomes a Servant of all servants.  We should follow that example and learn from

our dear kinsman and brother to gladly help and serve other people, even when it becomes a burden

for us and causes us to suffer a little bit in rendering that service.  These two things we should note

well:  the account itself and the example it sets.  To that end may God help us by the Holy Spirit

through our dear Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Sermons of Martin Luther: The House Postils [Grand Rapids:

Baker, 1996], vol. 1, p. 137]