THURSDAY December 24, 2020
Christmas Eve
Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Honestly, Christmas to me is every day––I worship God every day. I know children excitedly anticipate opening their gifts under the lighted Christmas tree. These gifts are covered in glistening wrapping paper, decorated with silky ribbons and bright bows––but the best gift is Jesus. He is our salvation.
Traditionally, families attend Christmas Eve church services. Old Christmas carols help us to reflect on the wonders of our salvation. The Christmas carol, Once in Royal David’s City, was written in 1848 as a poem by poet and hymn writer Cecil Frances Alexander:
Once in royal David’s city,
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor and meek and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.
One of the oldest Christmas carols was written in the 15th Century by an unknown writer. It is called God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. It captures the true meaning of our Savior’s birth––and His ability to save us all:
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy…
Jesus Christ became incarnate for one purpose, to make a way back to God that man might stand before Him as He was created to do….
~Oswald Chambers~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!