DAY 23

TAKE THE CURE

It is hard for me to say which Christmas song is my favorite, but “0 Holy Night” is definitely in the top 10.  It has great lyrics and wonderful music.  It takes a singer with the ability to sing a wide range to do the song justice.  I like to sing it but do not do it justice.

You cannot help seeing, as you look around in the world, the mammoth evils our world faces.  Oppression is one of those evils.  If you line up 10 people, you will get 10 opinions about what needs to happen to end oppression in its various forms and degrees.

When we come to Jesus, there are varying opinions about who his is.  But the Word of God is clear.  He is the Messiah that was foretold generations before.  He is the Savior come to save the world.  In Matthew 1:21, Joseph is being spoken to in a vision by an angel.  The angel declares what the Messiah’s name will be.  He says, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  Jesus’ very name communicated who he is and what he would do.  He came to save us from our sins.

Sin is rebellion against God.  All evil in the world is a result of that rebellion.  Jesus came to bring a rebellious world back into harmony with the Father.  Jesus is the only one who can do this.  He is the only one that can bring to an end evils in the world like oppression.  The last stanza of this carol declares, “Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.  And in his name all oppression shall cease.” It is in his powerful name that all oppression will end.

So why, after 2,000 years since his birth, is there so much evil in the world?  I think that G. K, Chesterton puts it well when he says, “The Christian idea has not be tried and found wanting.  It has be found difficult; and left untried.”  If the cure is rejected, healing cannot happen.  The cure, Jesus Christ, must be accepted.  Then, and only then, can the healing begin.

This Advent season accept the cure.

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 Spirit 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, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O’er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!