I Love Christmas Carols!

Christmas is more than just a day. It’s a whole season of lights and cookies, parties and presents! When people seem to be a little kinder to each other and more willing to reach out to the less fortunate. But my favorite aspect of this time of year is the music. I love Christmas carols!! Although I enjoy the modern ones, the old time standards are my favorite. Memories tied to them is one reason, but the richness of the lyrics is what seals them to my heart. Did you know you can tell the entire Christmas story through them?

Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Ye who sang creation’s story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth addresses what’s recorded in Luke 2. An angel appeared to shepherds and said: …I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:10-12)

The second verse of that hymn reveals another Scriptural truth: Shepherds, in the field abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing; Yonder shines the infant light. The third verse of O Come All Ye Faithful gets even more specific: Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning. Jesus to Thee be all glory given. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. That comes directly from John 1:1-2,14: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Then there’s: Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.” That’s not speaking of what we do – or should do – with our checkbook each month. Reconcile means to make right, settle, restore to harmony. That’s why Jesus came. To make us right with God. Our sin (the wrong things we do) separates us from a holy and perfect Lord. He took on flesh, lived a sinless life, and died in our place to pay the price for our sin. Second Corinthians 5:18-21 speaks of this: …God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. … We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. …God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

But how does that come about? Do we have to do something to make it happen? Our final carol for today answers that question: Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room and heaven and nature sing. That’s the key. How many times have we sung that without even thinking about what it means? Jesus died for all our sin but His sacrifice doesn’t cover my sin until I receive His gift of salvation and welcome Him into my heart. It’s the same with you.

That’s what Christmas is all about, not the lights and cookies, parties and presents. God becoming man and paying a price we cannot pay so that we can be made right with Him. And that’s why I love Christmas carols. Because they proclaim that truth in beautiful and creative ways. And keep my focus on the real reason for the season.

Time does not permit me to share more Biblical truths found in the Christmas songs we know and love. If you want to hear more, check out this link, Let Heaven and Nature Sing, as the Lord leads.

And be on the lookout for the Christmas story in the carols you sing along the way.