“…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10b

Christmas Devotion(al)

Christmas Revisited

The words to “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” written by Charles Wesley, are so familiar to us, we probably don’t consider the words. Today, in celebration of the birth of Christ, I ask you to meditate on how this well-known song tells the story of not only Christ’s birth, but His character, His deity, His purpose, His work, His names, and our restored relationship to Him. Particularly note the words in the last two stanzas, which we commonly do not sing and possibly have never heard.

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 th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain:
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’ incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun 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.

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving pow’r,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
Oh, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Lord of all, we bow our knee in adoration before You on this Christmas day. As the words to this song tell us, would You stamp Your image upon us. May we regain You, Your life, in our inner man. Dwell within us, and impart Yourself to us; restore our ruined nature, display Your saving power, and join our nature to Yours–thus accomplishing what You came to do when You left Your throne in heaven and were born to save Your people. Your plan of redemption was perfect. Be glorified by our thanksgiving. Amen.