It’s good to slow down, pause before Christmas, even taking a traditional song of the season, examine the heart behind the writing. The purpose, and examine our hearts again. Be inspired.
However, the title of this blog relates with “HURRY”. So if I am saying it is good to slow down, then, what is the hurry, the wonderful hurry?
To truly live, is to live with passion and purpose. God is zealous/passionate.- it is WHO He IS. How and why He acts. It is why the Passionate Christ came to save sinners. It is why Jesus stood in the temple with righteous passion to clean out what was unholy.
To live with Kingdom minded Christ centered purpose – this is passion, this is compassion. It’s not the touchy good feelings anytime of the year. It’s about GRATITUDE for what God has done, He is doing, will continue to do. It is about HOPE in His promises, as well as for the coming Kingdom and His return again for His children. The forever home beautiful beyond description He is preparing for those who place their lives in His care as Lord and Savior.
My youngest son has joined the Christmas Choir at our church. I am also apart of this. It has been a joy to practice together and see him sing with heart and purpose. God gave him a voice, a joy of singing, to not keep to himself, but to share for God’s purposes, for His glory. Both boys and myself decided to go behind the scenes of the writing of this traditional Christmas tune, and see the heart of it and examine our hearts again.
“OH COME ALL YE FAITHFUL” – John Francis Wade wrote this hymn in 1760. He was impressed by the way the shepherds responded together when they heard about the birth of Jesus.
They hurried off. One word makes such an impression. They HURRIED off to find the baby Jesus. They heard the good news and knew they needed to DO something. They made up their mind they had to go to “see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told about”. The power of the gospel is so real that it changes our lives and gives us an entirely new attitude. The shepherds knew Jesus came to save sinners and they SOUGHT to experience and see this King, the Living Word, Who became flesh.
Come all ye faithful – the saints who respond to the call to “COME” to the Lord, “go” and experience Him not just at Christmas, but every day of their lives and forevermore. “When they had seen Him, they spread the Word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them…the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:8-20
Jesus changed, and continues to change my life, and this Christmas, along with other Christians, we get to sing the praises of our Savior.
“The Word within is like a kindling that grows, that grows in intensity- that “fire of hope”. The Word of God kindles within a Believer, a fire that lights up and cannot be contained, and points to the future hope and world, and however humble what we do in a day of the Lord’s service, is great, because it is for eternity”-S.T. – Commentary
“…His word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
indeed, I cannot.”
Jer. 20:9
JESUS SAYS: “Behold, I am coming quickly” Rev. 22:12
SO WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? The best and greatest hurry that produces goodness, freedom, peace, joy – is the hurry to the Savior. The rush minute to minute day by day with our every thought, plan, struggles, trials, needs. We need Jesus. And when we experience His saving work, like the Shepherds we feel such conviction, passion, zeal to share the gospel message, share His glory, throughout everyday life.
It’s important to slow down, and reflect, and seek God, and it’s important that we waste no time to hurry to the foot of the cross where Jesus paid it all, and receive Him as Lord.
“sing the glory of HIS name, give to HIM glorious praise” Psalms 66:2
Love love love this. Lots of great advice.