After a while of trying to figure out what my next post was going to be about I realized that my life isn't just a poem, but my life is made up of many poems. And seeing as its Christmastime, here's some insight on what just recently became one of my favorite Christmas songs.
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n 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
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n 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
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Thinking about Christmas is so exciting because you get to see family, make wish lists, listen to happy music, eat tons of food, and not have to worry about anything related to school. But next is the cliche line where "too many people lose sight of the real meaning of Chrsitmas" comes in.
To be honest, I used to be one of those people who just assumed I understood the true meaning of Christmas, and in a way I did because I had heard the stories for so long in church Christmas pageants and Sunday school lessons.
But I think part of the reason so many people who understand the true meaning of Christmas lose sight of that meaning is because we have heard it all so much. Hearing something over and over again may help you burn it in your brain, but can almost turn your brain into auto-pilot mode: you know the answers to the questions without really thinking about it.
So my challenge for you is to start thinking about the lyrics to the words you are singing this Christmas season. Yes, you've known the words to most every song since you were 3, but seriously think about the words you are singing. Think about the meaning of the songs.
The line that gets me here "born that men no more may die." Jesus was born to die. He was born to die a painful death for the sins that I committed yesterday. For the sins you committed today. For the sins our children will one day commit in the future. Jesus' death provides a way for us sinful humans to have eternal life in heaven! So Jesus was born so that we could live, so that men would no longer have to die! "Light and life to all" indeed!
I hope that this Christimas season you turn up the radio as you drive around to shop or to see family and friends, and that you listen more closely as you hear Christmas songs to understand the true meaning.
