DAY 4

FREEDOM IN TRUST

The third stanza of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen reads:

“Fear not,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior
Of pure or Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Everyone wants to be free, but opinions vary on how to obtain freedom and what it looks like.  Some think that if they have just a little more money, then they will be free.  Others think that if this politician or that is in charge, then they will be free.    Or maybe if I have this job or live in that place, then I will be free.  When these goals are achieved, they are found to only be mute idols.

This carol states, that our Savior came “to free all those who trust in Him.” And what is it that he frees us from?  It is “from Satan’s power and might.” Do you desire to be free?  Trusting in Jesus is the source of the freedom you seek.  When we trust in the things of the world, the world is all we get.  Freedom in the worldly sense is self-sufficiency. When we trust in Christ, we receive freedom for this life and the one to come.  Freedom in the Godly sense is completion.

Jesus states in John 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.” The word trust here can also be translated believe and some English translations render it as such.  Belief, in the Christian sense, always means to trust also.  It is not enough to say I believe in Jesus.  We must also trust in him.  I might say I believe you are an honest person, but when I trust my wallet to your keeping, it show that my belief has substance to it.

This Advent season, do not simply believe in the coming of the Son of God, but rather entrust yourself to his keeping and find freedom there.

“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 Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought 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,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior
Of pure or Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power 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 brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy