You.

And everyone went to his own town to register. Luke two, verse three Christmas is one of the few times of the year when stores close up for most of the day. Notable exceptions are restaurants. Hey, people have to eat. And who has time to cook, right? Some pharmacies. People need their drugs. Gas stations. I'm not sure why people need gas since they're supposed to be home. Taking it easy. And hospitals. Sickness is no respecter of holidays. Most retail stores lock their doors to customers so that employees can have time to spend with their families. Much needed time off. Given the fact that so many of those employees have worked extra long hours with extra cranky customers for several weeks leading up to Christmas, we are all grateful for a few hours off when we can get a break from the hustle and hassle of work. We know, of course, that life doesn't stop for any great length of time just because something special is happening. When Jesus was born, the world didn't stop spinning. Heads needed to be counted. Taxes had to be paid. Mouths needed to be fed. The Jews didn't work on Saturday, but those days had to be spent in church and could hardly be counted as days off. That little remark in Luke about everyone going to his own town to register for the tax census ordered by Caesar Augustus is a simple reminder that life is going on all around us, on even the grandest days in history. In fact, while we make a big deal of Jesus'birth today, his actual birthday was significant to only a handful of folks. His entrance into the world was a much bigger deal than anyone knew, of course, but only a select few were made aware of it. Maybe God wanted it to happen this way so that people wouldn't become so caught up in celebrating that they forget the one whose birth was to be celebrated. I'm not suggesting that we treat Christmas as just another day. It is not just another day. It is good and right to celebrate. I'm merely suggesting that we not let our celebrations overshadow the one for whom the celebration is given.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected] have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day. Close.