A miracle has happened … heaven has invaded earth … God has become one of us … His presence has brought the healing power of heaven to earth’s sickened condition. What a miracle it is.
Where there once was depression and grief … now there is now the possibility of joy.
Where there once was confusion and stormy circumstances … there is now the possibility of peace.
Where sin once ruled the condition of mankind … now forgiveness has the final word.
His birth has changed everything for every generation in every century on every continent.
Jesus has come. Let the earth receive her King!
One cannot contemplate the glory of this season without pondering the music that accompanies this most triumphant time of year.
The lyrics of the hymns of Christmas proclaim, perhaps, the greatest truths of Christian theology other than the Word of God itself. Within the hallowed words of the sacred carols, humanity is reminded that God came as a Baby and that nothing would ever be the same again.
Consider these lyrics from the majestic and centuries old carol, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!”:
“Hail! The heaven-born Prince of Peace; Hail the son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by, born that man, no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth!”
The One Who has been given authority in the realm of peace now belongs to earth. This Baby left the glory of heaven so that you and I would never experience the pain of death. We are born again because He was born to us.
Don’t those lyrics just ring into the depths of your earthly soul?
The words of “Oh Come All Ye Faithful!” penned by John Reading stir the most wretched among us to open our mouths in heartfelt adoration:
“Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning!
Jesus to Thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!”
Christmas didn’t begin in Bethlehem … Christmas began at creation! Think about that for a minute or two this Christmas season! The beloved words found in the gospel of John confirm the truth of the lyrics written by Mr. Reading in 1751:
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God … and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” – John 1:1, 2 & 14.
The Word of the Father appeared in the flesh and His Name was Jesus!
The words of my favorite Christmas hymn never fail to elicit tears as I silently and reverently sing the achingly beautiful lyrics. The sacredness and glory of Christmas is captured in the simple message that rings through the ages in the masterpiece entitled, “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne”:
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee.
Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
O Come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee.
And once again, this Christmas, I declare with the saints of yesteryear that there is indeed room in my heart for Jesus, the Babe in the manger. {eoa}
Carol McLeod is an author and popular speaker at women’s conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. She has written five books, including No More Ordinary, Holy Estrogen!, The Rooms of a Woman’s Heart and Defiant Joy! Her most recent book, Refined: Finding Joy in the Midst of the Fire, was released on Aug. 1. Her teaching DVD The Rooms of a Woman’s Heart won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award for excellence in religious programming. You can also listen to Carol’s “A Jolt of Joy” program daily on the Charisma Podcast Network.
