It's the Christmas season and people are hustling a bustling around getting last minute gifts for loved ones.  Battle lines have been drawn, long queues have formed in stores, people have become impatient, fights over the last toy have broken out and goodwill has all but disappeared.  The season for giving is wrought with selfishness.

Or is it?  "A Savior has been born to you..."  The words of the angel to the lowly shepherds watching over their sheep.  "...he is Christ the Lord."  The Savior has come, Christ has come to this earth to save us, to rescue us.

What did this Savior do?  What was so special about this baby born in Bethlehem that angels would appear and tell some dirty shepherds out in the hills?  Was He to deliver them from the Romans, from their oppressors?  Was He to conquer the world so that they could become the nation that they once were?

Christ was born to die.  On a mission that required death.  Atonement.  We focus on the death of Christ and His sacrifice, but we forget the true gift.  The hope that Christ gives us.  Life!  Hope in life!  Jesus is alive!  He was raised, He conquered death.  This is hope in life.

Goodwill has not disappeared.  It's in the hearts of those who have accepted the love and the gift that Christ has given.  They don't make themselves seen, they aren't outspoken.  They just do their work unnoticed, without complaint, because they know of the gift of their Savior.  Hope in life!