Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV))“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn…
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’”
Luke 2: 6-14 (ESV)“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8: 31 (ESV)
During the 1960’s Simon and Garfunkel released an album entitled “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.”
It was during the Vietnam War and one song on the album— “7 O’Clock News/Silent Night”—stirred up a lot of feelings about the war, and many other tragic, negative, despairing things occurring throughout our nation and world.
Similar feelings, perhaps, to those which many of us feel today.
While the Ukraine War rages on, conflicts in the middle east escalate, antisemitism on college campuses and beyond continues, a car is intentionally crashed into a Christmas gathering in Germany killing and injuring attendees, while mass shootings, corruptness on many fronts, homelessness, children struggling to survive, and more, continue to dominate too many of our news reports.
It might cause one to wonder if God cares at all about anything that is going on down here. Do we even matter to God?
But before we go down that road, we need to pause for a moment and remember that we are about to celebrate the greatest act of love imaginable.
By God—to save the world.
To show a lost, rebellious, and hurting world what He thought of them.
To show us all that He cares. That we do matter to Him. That He does love us. That He is for us. And when we make some of the choices we make leading to despair, destruction, and heartache—it breaks His heart, too.
He called out for a prophet; and Isaiah raised his hand. And God told Isaiah to tell His children that hope was on the way.
So, Isaiah prophesied God’s promise— “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Then years later, God kept His promise, and sent His Son as a Baby, as the message in the song “O Holy Night” proclaims—
“O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior’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, O holy night, O night divine…”
I wonder what God expects us to do. I wonder what role in this eternal journey we are expected to play.
And should play, with the free will God gives us to choose for our lives.
Opportunities abound for us to be all He created us to be, and to lift and encourage others to be all God created them to be.
God loves us. God is for us. God cares.
If He didn’t care, why would He have sent His Son to earth, knowing He would eventually give His life for us on the cross.
And in that Holy Night, came all the Hope we would ever need to become all He created us to be, while helping all those God brings before us to become all they can be.
Maybe we should start here—
“Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born.
O night, O holy night, O night divine.”
“O Holy Night.”
Now, what will we do with that message.
In His Name–Scott
Be blessed as you listen to the presentation by the chorale and orchestra led by Andre’ Rieu of “O Holy Night.”
