“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David); To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manager; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 1:4-7).
There has always been something very tender, incredible, and hard-to-describe about Christmas Eve. I loved Christmas Eve services. This special service became a community-wide celebration at the First Baptist Church of Marilla. While all the Christmas services were well-attended, the candlelight Christmas Eve service usually was the highest attended of the entire year. I remember distinctly one year at just about a half hour before people would start to arrive, the winds off Lake Erie shifted just enough that a major, heavy, blinding band of lake effect snow shifted into Marilla. I spoke with the chairman of the deacons, and we both agreed that it was too late to get announcements of cancelation out to the community. Let me tell you what happened. I honestly thought that very few would come. Was I ever wrong! People from all over Marilla came in four-wheeled vehicles and others walked to the church. In a blinding snowstorm the church was packed as we celebrated the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus. One person commented to me afterwards, “Thanks for not canceling. If Jesus could come to such an inconvenient place, a little snow shouldn’t stop us.” I’ve never forgotten that. “An inconvenient place for Joseph, Mary, and the Lord Jesus,” indeed! He came to be our Savior.
For today: May the Lord Jesus be the center of any celebration you will have this year!