The Carols of the King - Pt 4

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! (Psalm 29:7-11 ESV).

I hope you are enjoying the days leading to Christmas. Today I’ve chosen the carol “I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day.” The lyrics originate from the poem “Christmas Bells” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, written on Christmas day in 1863. It was not a feel-good song but one born in grief. Longfellow’s wife had died in a fire in 1860. And on December 1, 1863, the widower received the news that his eldest son, 19-year-old Charley, had been nearly paralyzed by a gunshot wound fighting for the Union in the Civil War. It was with that background that he penned this poem about the dissonance between the Christmas bells, the singing of “peace on earth,” and the world around him of injustice and violence and finally ending with the hope for peace in Christ. I’ve chosen the version by Casting Crowns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7670CXvPX0. It can be easy to view God simply as a friend to go to in times of trouble or a magic genie that grants all of your prayers. But God is so much more than that, and the blessings He wants to give to you are endless! He offers so many wonderful things, including hope, joy, and peace for your heart. God wants nothing but the best for you. That’s never easy to imagine in the midst of the challenging circumstances of life. Perhaps no one knew this better that Jesus. The life he chose to accept on our behalf was not one of ease. I can’t imagine the early childhood of Jesus. When he finally returned to the small town of Nazareth, after fleeing for his life in the arms of his parents, he would not have had an easy childhood. He would not have been protected by the community or relatives. Joseph and Mary must have struggled with the jeers and rejection they faced from others. Jesus certainly knew this by the time he was an adolescent. However, that childhood bullying would be nothing compared to the last three years of his life. It finally ended with the false accusations from those who should have known better. Beaten beyond recognition and nailed to a cross to die slowly in agony was not peaceful. But it was for peace. Although our circumstances may be difficult that doesn’t mean that God isn’t there. He cares about you, loves you with a perfect love, and is waiting for you to let Him be your peace. So this Christmas don’t forget to stop and remember that only God can provide you with the unwavering quiet strength that comes from His peace.