“Good Christian Men, Rejoice!”

“Good Christian Men, Rejoice!”

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say
Jesus Christ is born today
Man and beast before Him bow
And He is in the manger now
Christ is born today
Christ is born today!

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Now ye hear of endless bliss
Jesus Christ was born for this
He hath opened heaven’s door
And man is blessed forevermore
Christ was born for this
Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Now ye need not fear the grave
Jesus Christ was born to save
Calls you one, and calls you all
To gain His everlasting hall
Christ was born to save
Christ was born to save!

Dear God, why are we–why am I–so bad at getting this word out? Christ was born to save! The first verse of this son is just announcing who he is and how we should worship him. The second verse talks about the afterlife and our access to eternity with you through Jesus. And I suppose the third verse does this as well, but I left this song thinking about a sermon by Andy Stanley I listened to yesterday. I have such freedom and peace to tell people about. Why don’t I do it more.

I’ll be getting into this more when I start doing my series on Dear Evan Hansen next week, but there is so much loneliness out there. People feel so isolated. It’s tragic, really. And I’ve been becoming more and more aware of how many elderly are alone and even struggling to care for themselves. Okay, I’m off topic now, but I guess my point is, I don’t see a lot of Christians rejoicing. And I don’t see them selling rejoicing to the world. We tend to sell judgment. We tend to sell rules. We tend to sell guilt or even fear. Why don’t we sell rejoicing?

Father, help me to, first, live out your joy and freedom and, second, to share it with others. There are a lot of needs around me. Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. I can’t do it all, and I don’t think I should. But help me to know the role you have for me to make a difference in our community so that, through my life, your kingdom might come and your will might be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

“Silent Night”

“Silent Night”

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glory streams from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing, “Alleluia!
Christ the Saviour is born
Christ the Saviour is born”

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, loves pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous Star, lend thy light
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King
Christ the Saviour is born
Christ the Saviour is born

Dear God, I’ve been saving this one for Christmas Eve. It’s the standard candlelight service hymn. When the lights go out and we pass the flame of the candle from one person to another, we all sing this standard. No matter the church service or denomination I’ve been to for a Christmas Eve service, I’m pretty sure this was the hymn for that moment. It’s quite beautiful. So gentle. So peaceful.

It starts with just the image. A mom holding her child. It’s calm at the moment. Yes, they are in a barn, but after the travel, the uncomfortable pregnant woman having to camp out, the frantic search for a place to give birth, and the pain of childbirth, this moment is quiet and peaceful. And the rest won’t last. There will be things to do, but this moment…this moment is peaceful.

Then the shepherds arrive. They were told to be there by angels and they tell Mary and Joseph their story. I’m sure that this was a great comfort to the new parents as they tried to make sense of everything that was happening. Did they feel like failures for having had to give birth to your son in a barn? Did they doubt what they had heard from the angels in that moment? Well, if they did, here come the shepherds telling stories of angels in the hills proclaiming Jesus’s birth and pointing them to the barn. God did know they were there! The angels knew they were there! What an affirmation!

And now the baby. I don’t know how radiant Jesus actually was, but it’s a nice thought to think that he had a glow about him. Surely there was something that gave the newborn Jesus a different countenance than the average baby. And here’s a reference to the dawn. The Sun (Son?) rising. Hope. It’s the new advent of redeeming grace. Even in birth, Jesus was deserving of our worship, as the shepherds displayed.

In this last verse we join the angels in their worship from the second verse. And so, Father, I sing this morning, “Alleluia! Christ the Saviour is born!”

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

“O Holy Night”

“O Holy Night”

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;

Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born.
O night divine, O night, O night divine.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,
And in his name all oppression shall cease,
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise his Holy name!

Christ is the Lord, let all the people praise Him!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!

Dear God, I have to start with a little surprise. I wanted to do this hymn, but I couldn’t find it in any of the three hymnals I have in my home, and they represent the Baptist, Catholic, and Presbyterian Churches. That was odd. So I had to go and get the lyrics from the Internet. I didn’t expect that.

With that said, this is a great hymn. I want to just take a look at the lines that strike me:

• Verse 1: “Till he appeared, and the soul felt its worth (emphasis mine).” What is my soul’s worth? Well, it’s huge to you. My sin and shame can bog me down and hide the value of my soul. But repentance brings freedom and uncovers exactly what my soul is worth. What a beautiful choice of words! He appeared in my life, and my soul did, indeed, feel its worth.
• Verse 1: “A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” “Hope” is an amazing thing that Jesus offers. Hope for something beyond ourselves. Hope for something beyond what we see. Hope that there is something beyond our own wisdom. Hope that there is something beyond our insecurity and hate, our selfishness and pride. Because yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
• First Chorus: “Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices.” This is how you get there. No pride. No posturing. You fall on your knees, humble yourself and worship with the angels.
• Verse 2: “Truly He taught us to love one another.” That’s the life Jesus lived. By coming to earth as human, he taught us through example, and there is example after example of Jesus loving people unreasonably.
• Verse 2: “In his name, all oppression shall cease.” Okay, I have to say that this hasn’t really happened. Plenty of Christians oppress others in Jesus’s name. I’ve probably done it too. No, this is a nice idea, but I don’t think it’s a vision realized.
• Chorus 2: “Christ is the Lord, let all the people praise Him.” Yes and yes. Jesus, you are the Lord. You are part of my God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I will praise you.

Father, tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Let it be a day when I will actually be very mindful of you and who you are. Let it be a day of worship.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

“What Child Is This?”

“What Child Is This?”

What child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King
Whom Shepherds guard
And Angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary

Why lies he in such mean estate
Where ox amd ass are feeding?
Good Christian fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading

This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary

So bring him incense, gold and myrrh
Come peasant, king, to own him
The King of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone him

This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary

Dear God, the first two verses of this song are full of questions. Who is this? I know he’s special, but who is this? Angels are singing for him. Shepherds are guarding him. Why is he lying in such a “mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?”

Then the answer comes back. Oh, who is this? Well, let me tell you. This baby that the shepherds are guarding and about whom the angels are singing is Christ the King. You should quickly worship and honor him, this son of Mary.

So now the questioner seemingly becomes the commander in verse three. Bring him gifts (with a reference to the wise men). It doesn’t matter whether you are a peasant or a king, he is yours. He is your King. Accept the salvation he brings and enthroned him in your life.

I watched video yesterday of a politician who was asked flat out if he had ever asked you for forgiveness and he responded, “That’s a hard question.” Then he ultimately answered that he never had and had never found a reason to. I don’t think that man could ever sing these words–at least and mean them. But before I get too judgmental, can I? Do I really enthrone you?

I was thinking about my worship of you on my way into church this morning. There is no tragedy driving me to my knees right now. No great sin in my life (although there are plenty of little ones). My worship of you right now is not naturally driven through desperation’s. It is a conscious choice. But is it a choice I am making often enough? Do you smile when you think of me and our relationship?

Father, this Christ the King, of whom angels sing, is my God. He is you. He is part of you. Holy Spirit, you are this same Jesus and Father as well. Out of pure gratitude (like the 10th leper who returned to say thank you) I come to you and thank you for everything. I am truly grateful.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

“Angels We Have Heard On High”

“Angels We Have Heard On High”

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria In Excelsis Deo!
Gloria In Excelsis Deo!

Shepherds why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav’nly song?
Gloria In Excelsis Deo!
Gloria In Excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Gloria In Excelsis Deo!
Gloria In Excelsis Deo!

See within in a manger laid
Whom the choirs of angels praise
Mary, Joseph lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise
Gloria In Excelsis Deo!
Gloria In Excelsis Deo!

https://youtu.be/WHWqj6gKS9g

Dear God, I know I just said this in another prayer, but it is fascinating that it is the shepherds that got the angel visit. The angel visited Zechariah, Mary, Joseph (multiple times), and the shepherds. I think that’s it. The shepherds. One angel shows up while the shepherds are “keeping watch over their flocks at night” (Luke 2:8b). Your glory reflected off of the angel and it scared them.

But what if the angel had gone somewhere else? What if he had shown up at the high priest’s home? The governor? The innkeeper for crying out loud? All of these people would probably have messed up the plan. The priest wouldn’t have trusted Mary and Joseph to raise the child. The governor probably would have killed him. And the innkeeper…well, I’m sure he would have messed things up too.

And then when the angel is done with his message, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,” in their best Latin, “Gloria, In Excelsis Deo!” We see movies that depict Santa and the elves every Christmas Eve getting ready for Christmas. The excitement and joy they are about to unleash on the world is palpable. It’s hard for me to imagine the reality of how the angels felt to watch Jesus come down and enter time and space as a human. He would live a simple life with a tragic and then glorious end, but, in the meantime, the world needed confirmation beyond just what Mary and Joseph knew. We needed to know that someone else had an angel visit. Someone with no skin in the game. The shepherds from that night, while their names are lost to history, are still a huge part of our story (and every church Christmas pageant) today.

Father, I am sure I will hear this song at a Christmas Eve service on Tuesday. It’s a staple. Frankly, it’s never been a favorite of mine, but it is a good reminder that these shepherds and this incident are a critical and strategic part of the plan. Thank you for thinking of everything.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

“Away in a Manger”

“Away in a Manger”

Away in a manger
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
Look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle
‘Til morning is nigh

Be near me, Lord Jesus
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to Heaven
To live with Thee there

https://youtu.be/_gxgrAqxPcI

Dear God, I most associate this song with children bits not really a children’s song, but I think there’s something about it that is comforting to children. It’s almost like a lullaby.

I was thinking about this song yesterday and thinking once again about your alternatives for Jesus’s earthly experience. I say once again because this is something I’ve thought about before.

In terms of Jesus’s family you could have chosen a wealthy family. You could have chosen to make him David’s actual child. You could have made him the child of the high priest. You had a lot of choices. If you’d have asked me to lay out the plan I’d have probably picked the best high priest I could find. That would make sense, right? Instead, you chose a girl and a man who seemingly had nothing going for them. But you needed not only their humility and character to be Jesus’s parents. You also needed the flexibility and obedience. They had to be willing to escape to Egypt to avoid Herod. Also, Jesus in the home of an important person would not have grown up with an up close and personal look at the poor.

Then there’s how he was born. “Away in a Manger.” Why were the only witnesses shepherds? Why was he in a barn, sleeping on hay? Would it have been so bad to have been in an inn? Starting with the shepherds, I just love the fact that they are they ones the angels went to. They didn’t appear to the church leaders and say, “Unto you is born in the city of David…” They didn’t appear to Herod. They went to shepherds. And even though the Bible indicates that after they saw the baby they went all over town telling people, it doesn’t appear that the word really got out about Jesus. It says in Luke 2 that “all were amazed” when they heard the shepherds’ story, but I have to wonder if they weren’t respected enough to really be believed. But by appearing to these guys and having them show up, I’m sure it was a huge encouragement to Mary and Joseph. And you know my theory that Mary and Joseph had probably been camping near Bethlehem and might have even been known by the shepherds. I’m sure they knew that particular barn.

Father, all of this is to say, your ways are not my ways, and your wisdom is much grander than mine. I would have done this very differently and it would have been a mess. So as I look at my own life, the personal and professional decisions I have to make, and even how I evaluate the decisions of others, help me to lean not on my own understanding, but to lean into your wisdom and listen for your still, small voice.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

“Angles We Have Heard on High”

“Angels We Have Heard on High”

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav’nly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

See Him in a manger laid
Whom the choirs of angels praise
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

https://youtu.be/WHWqj6gKS9g

Dear God, this has probably become the most ubiquitous Christmas hymn of our generation. If I were to survey all of the Christmas Eve services in our town, I would bet that over 90% of them would use this song. It is as much of a standard as “Silent Night” (which I’m saving for Christmas Eve).

So let’s see what we have here. First, I’ll just say that I love the idea of spending some time with the shepherds. In this song, the angels show up in the first verse and I presume we are singing from the shepherds’ perspective because they are the ones who heard the angels singing o’er the plains.

Next, a part of the story that is often overlooked is how the shepherds went throughout Bethlehem telling people what they had seen the night before. Did they start singing too? The writer of this hymn seems to think they did.

The third verse is apparently the shepherds inviting people to come to Bethlehem to see what they just heard the angels singing about. And they recognize the baby is to be worshipped because they call him Christ and of the bended-knee part. And I just made sure that in Luke 2:11 the angel does, indeed refer you Jesus as the Messiah.

As far as verse four goes, I’ve always liked the idea that the shepherds’ arrival and story would be a great affirmation to Mary and Joseph, who had to be scared and insecure about how this night had turned out. Personally, I can think of several times that you have given me an affirmation that I’ve needed

Father, as I close, I have an old friend from my Waco days who is in the hospital for intestinal blockage. Please be with him. Be with the doctors. Heal him. Clear the blockage and make him as comfortable as possible. Strengthen his wife and his children. Give them encouragement and affirmation in the midst of this trial. Help them to tangibly feel your presence.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

“Joy to the World” by Isaac Watts

“Joy to the World” by Isaac Watts (Arr. from George F. Handel)

Joy to the World! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart
Prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and Nature sing
And heaven, and heaven
and nature sing

Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns
Let me their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat
The sounding joy

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make
His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as
The curse is found

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of
His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders
Of His love

Dear God, here’s a classic that I remember hearing a lot when my mom would play Christmas music when I was little. I have to say that I listened to several versions of this on YouTube before I found the link above, but the only one I wanted to hear was the full choir version. It’s just the one that I know best and that sounds right.

So let’s see what I notice in these lyrics that I’ve missed before:

• Verse 1: This one is just straight forward and the one that most people reading this will know without having to look at the words. But what’s it implore us to do. First, we should be full of joy because you came to earth! We should receive you. On an individual level, we should “prepare” room for you. Sidebar, I think the idea of preparing room for your is important. We don’t just welcome you into our heart, but we prepare the space for you like space is prepared for a guest staying in our home. We clean. We purge. We throw things away. The same is true for our hearts. We need to prepare room for you and that includes repenting and turning from sin. And, of course, while we do this, heaven and nature will be singing about this wonderful news.
• Verse 2: This verse makes me think of the verse in Luke 19:40 when Jesus says that if the people stopped praising then the rocks would cry out. We need to praise you with songs and acclamation because the fields, waters, rocks, hills, and plains are already doing it.
• Verse 3: Going back to verse 1, this verse gets into preparing our hearts (the soil of our hearts) for you. This reminds me of the journal I did several weeks ago about the parable of the sower and how we need to be continually weeding and removing the thorns from the soil of our hearts to ensure that your Spirit has a place to grow and return the highest yield possible.
• Verse 4: I’ve got to say, I don’t know about this verse. Perhaps this is post-tribulation, but it doesn’t feel like you are ruling the earth. Of course, you are the author and creator. You made us all. And you are truth and grace. But right now the nations are not proving the glories of our righteousness or the wonders of your love.

Father, once again, I am left thinking that I need to constantly be preparing room for you in my heart. It’s a moment by moment thing and not just something I do once. And I also need to remember the joy of all of this. You came! You lived! You Sacrificed and Won! You will reign forever! Let me be filled with joy!

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

“O Little Town of Bethlehem”

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Lewis H. Redner

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O Morning Stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth!

How silently, how silently
The wondrous Gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in the world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in

O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin, and enter in
Be born in us today!
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Immanuel!

https://youtu.be/CwfkGj51S2c

Dear God, I copied this from a Baptist hymnal from 1956 (this song would have been less than 100 years old then). As I typed it, what I found most interesting was the use of exclamation marks. What does Redner emphasize?

• O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! He finds it remarkable how still the town is on that night. Now, he doesn’t know this, but that’s how he envisions it. Just another night in a little town. They have no idea what is happening. How still everything is!
• O Morning Stars, together, Proclaim the holy birth, and praise sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth! The star. Sometimes I forget about how the stars aligned that night to fulfill the prophecy. And through their alignment, they were announcing peace on earth! What does that peace mean? Certainly not between ourselves. But it does mean the potential for peace between all of us and you.
• How silently, how silently, The wondrous Gift is given! Again with the silence of the whole thing. The unassuming nature of the whole thing. Somewhere in town, a woman gave birth. Later in the night (or the next morning), some shepherds would be going around and talking about what they saw, but, in the meantime, the most amazing Christmas present ever had finally arrived and it came in relative silence.
• O holy Child of Bethlehem! Just an emphatic proclamation of who Jesus is and his worth. The exclamation point there turns that one sentence into worship.
• Be born in us today! This verse is the first time Redner brings the song into our modern times and out of the period. This is the verse that gives the pronouns “we” and “us.” We become participants in the story. As we sing, we ask that you not only be born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, but that you will be born in us today!
• O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel! And this is our prayer. We acknowledge the story. We accept the story. And now we ask that you will become part of our own story. The other verses have one exclamation point each. This one has three. I don’t think that is coincidence.

Father, be born in me today. Cast out my sin and enter in. Abide with me, my Lord, Immanuel.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our heav’nly Father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brougth tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

“Fear not, then,” said the angel,
“Let nothing you afright
This day is born a Savior
Of virgin pure and bright
To free all those who trust in him
From Satan’s pow’r and might.”

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises
All you within this place
And with true love and charity
Each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas
Is filled with heav’nly grace

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Dear God, I’m not sure why I picked this hymn this morning. It’s never been one of my favorites, necessarily. I just heard it yesterday and the phrase, “To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray,” struck me and I thought that maybe there was something here I should notice.

• Verse 1: I’ve never noticed the word “rest.” Don’t be anxious. Don’t be dismayed. Rest. Rest. Just remember that Jesus was born to save us from all of this, even when we are gone astray, and rest. Hmm. I like that. And we don’t rest ourselves. You are the one that has given us rest.
• Verse 2: You told the shepherds to rest too. They were like us. Working. Surviving. Struggling. And the good news that the angels brought them was to give them rest and tidings of comfort and joy. Not just joy, but comfort. The same is true for us in verse 1.
• Verse 3: This whole verse is a quote from the angels (as written by the author). Fear not. Don’t be afraid. Jesus is born of a virgin to free those who trust in him from Satan’s power and might. I don’t know why this says about salvation, if anything, but I do know that the key to being free of Satan’s power here on earth is to trust in Jesus and receive the grace he provides.
• Verse 4: So now that we know this, we are to worship you, love each other, and extend charity.

Father, help me today to worship you, love others, and extend charity. Thank you for this glad tidings of comfort and joy.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen