I’ve heard so many singers and bands perform this old carol, and they all have one commonality. That one piece of common ground is seen in all the different genres of music, the various generations of singers and the many different styles of delivery. I’ve heard the song on vinyl LP’s, 8-tracks, cassettes, terrestrial radio, satellite radio, and mp3. What’s the one thing that connects all of these variations? The simple lyrics that are attached to the old carol:
O come all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord.
If this is the most wonderful time of the year, why is it also the busiest, most frustrating, deeply disappointing season as well? Because we have put so much pressure on a season to deliver enough joy, peace, and family to last another eleven months. And, we seem to be getting worse at setting and meeting those expectations.
For me? I need to take a bit of my own medicine today. I love being the pastor of a wonderful church, but being a pastor in the season of Christmas is overwhelming. I cannot meet the expectations placed on me, in our church, or on my family. I’ll bet your family is similar in all of those areas as well.
Then what are we to do about it? Come into the presence of the Divine and come full of faith. The old carol starts the prescription for us in the first line. “Come all ye faithful.” And by the way, come with joy, knowing that He has already triumphed. Come to Bethlehem. I’m not talking about the place, I’m talking about returning to the heartbeat of why Jesus came to this earth. Return to Him. Come behold His glory, His power, and His faithfulness. When you do, you will adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Come behold Him this week, and see how He can lead you to joy and triumph.
Merry Christmas,
Chuck
