O Holy Night

Hope this season finds you well and not driven into the ground trying to get everything done! It's a challenge to find some quiet moments to let the spirit of the season be known, isn't it? Sometimes, here in Southern Cal, just getting on the road or driving into a shopping center, I can feel the pressure and stress of those around me.

I was shopping in a store where the Christmas music actually had the words to the song; which happened to be my favorite Christmas carol, 'O Holy Night'.

For me it has always been such a powerful song. I pray you will find time to reflect on the whole song. It is rich with significance! The first verse starts out...

'Long lay the world in sin and error pining'

...and strikes a familiar chord within me. I wondered, since some of the words to these songs I've never used in my vocabulary before, what pining meant! So I looked it up!

The meaning of the word really sheds new depth on not only the state of humanity then, but now as well. Webster's says this about pining—"The act or condition of one that pines."

Hmmm...I went back a little further to pine since I only thought that it had only ever referred to a tree!

Pine: to inflict pain upon, to torment, to torture; to lose vigor, health, or flesh as through grief, anxiety, or hunger.

Wow! Isn't that a telling description as to the state of mankind today in our nation? Moreover, it is so true that long lay the world in sin and error pining. In other words, the whole condition of man is going through this state of anxiety, torment, pain and even hunger, whether we want to acknowledge it or not, it is there! It is a result of our sin, our falling nature. We are seeing the effects of it all around us today. For some of us, we relate to it quite well, I know I sure can!

However, that is only the first part of the first verse to the song, thankfully! The music turns to emphasize the second part, which goes on…

♫♪♫♪♫♪♪♪♫♫♪♪♪♪♪♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♪♫
"Till He appeared, and the soul felt it's worth.
A thrill of hope,
the weary world rejoices.
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn".

And that's great news people, isn't it?

We get stuck in the muck and mire, we have many questions, and all the pain we go through does not always have to be so devastating! There is a way out and a different perspective to have. Oh isn't that terrific news?

Jesus Christ's sole purpose in showing up on planet earth was so that we could know Him, God incarnate! And by knowing Him and experiencing His unrelenting love for us, our soul will find it's worth!

There is a question or two here. Has your soul, and my soul found it's rest and it's worth in deeply knowing Jesus? Are we living in the reality of God's amazing love for us to the depth that it's made a difference in our day to day lives?

You see, as we know Jesus better, and gain His perspective on the world and our own lives it only makes sense that something would change, wouldn't it? Some of you can attest to the changes made in your own soul as a result. Things like peace instead of anxiety or strife. A contentment inside so we don't have to act out and find pleasure in other vices. Forgiveness instead of holding anger or grudges...I could go on.

The demonstration of God’s love for us, by stepping into a lost and fallen world for you and for me, is truly amazing, especially when you consider that we were his enemies (Romans 5:6-11)! Therefore, the only response I can think of, and that the song's chorus builds to is…

Fall on your knees!
O hear the angels sing!
Oh night, divine!

That is the kind of posture that makes sense (not only at this time of year), one of humble and grateful worship to Jesus Christ! I hope that this writing brings you renewal and hope in your present season of life, wherever that finds you! Knowing Jesus deeply from the heart, results in us having a rich and deep quality of life, our soul will find it's worth, and our purpose will be clear! So with that in mind… Let's fall on our knees and rejoice in His amazing love.

Dave Hershey