Psalm 23 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
As we enter the Christmas season, it is worth spending time considering the power and the meaning of the birth of our Savior.
Trench warfare during World War I demonstrated the most brutal and animalistic instincts of mankind. Yet, on the Western Front in 1914, up to 100,000 German, French, and British troops set down their weapons together and celebrated the birth of Christ. It was known as the Christmas Truce of 1914, and provided a small glimpse of hope for mankind in the midst of death and despair. Christ’s entrance into this world on the first Christmas day did the same of all of us.
These soldiers in 1914 stopped their conflict for a day and a half – from afternoon on Christmas Eve until the morning of December 26th. They greeted one another with wishes for a merry Christmas. They exchanged presents. They played soccer. They held joint memorial services, and read scripture together like Psalm 23. It was described as “a short peace in a terrible war.”
As we approach Christmas, we need to take time to cling to His peace. We need to embrace His goodness and His mercy. We need to remember that His comfort can last longer than a day and a half. It can last throughout the year and throughout our lives.
PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD RECOGNIZE CHRIST’S GLIMPSE OF HOPE FOR MANKIND. It is not just a small glimpse of hope, but an eternal glimpse of hope.
