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Christmas Devotional
by Rev. Tom Gray
Almost everyone loves Christmas carols. Even people who’ve rarely darkened the door of a church can hum along. They might even know a few of the words. As beautiful as the music is, the words are the heart of carols. Unfortunately, even people who know the words, very few know more than the first verse.
The power of the words of carols often builds with each successive verse. Together they form a serious theology of Jesus Christ and why He came to Earth so long ago. The first verses frequently set the manger scene, or some other aspect of Jesus while the others tell us more.
There is a very good reason we should know all the verses by heart. They form the real meaning of Christmas.
Look at the third verse of “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing:”
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son 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
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Another is the third verse of “Joy to the World:”
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
Not all the carols have words with deep spiritual meaning, but many do. Try memorizing all the verses of a carol each year as a Christmastime devotion. You might encourage your children and grandchildren to do the same. These words, in your mind and on your heart, can draw you closer to the Lord not only at Christmas, but throughout the year.