“[F]or today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11 NASB).
Even though department stores start decorating for Christmas around the end of October, (whatever happened to Thanksgiving?!), I’m often disappointed that worship services I attend generally doesn’t sing very many Christmas hymns except for the week of Christmas and, if I’m lucky, the week or two before. The same thing happens at Easter. Why can’t we sing Christmas and Easter hymns all year? Until this tradition can be overcome, I will endeavor to enjoy the music for as long as I can each season.
Recently, O Holy Night (words by John S. Dwight) has become one of my favorite Christmas hymns. The words are so powerful. “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.” We always think of Christ’s suffering on the cross, His physical pain and even more so His spiritual pain. He took on our sins, was separated from the Father, and died for us. But before He did all of that, He also relinquished something precious at His birth. The moment Jesus came to Earth, He gave up forever His original heavenly form. He, now and forever, will wear human flesh; His own creation. Do we truly feel our own worth? People might treat us as if we are less than nothing. But Jesus, God, has given us our value by coming to us, being born like us, saving us, even though He is the King of all the universe.
“Fall on your knees!” “Behold your King; before him lowly bend!” Have you ever bowed before anyone? I haven’t. We don’t do very much bowing in our culture. What does it mean to bow before our Lord? When we pray on our knees or we bow our head what are we signifying? Are we saying to God that He is our King and we submit to His ruling? Are we able to let God be in charge of our lives? When Jesus came as a baby, a helpless infant, He trusted God to take care of Him and His earthly parents. Are we able to bow before God and trust Him as completely as Jesus did?
Dear Jesus, help me to rely fully on You, to bow before you with a humble attitude. And may every fiber of my being celebrate with gratitude the joy and sacrifice of Your birth.
“… let all within us praise his holy name.”