December 8

O Holy Night

by Gene Curtis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQVDjz214EE

There are several phrases in this beautiful Christmas song that have stood out to me each Christmas season: “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, … a thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, … yonder breaks a new and glorious morn”.  But the phrase that hits me the hardest is there in the 1st verse, “Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth”. It is in Christ’s desire to come for us that we realize our real value.

There is a wonderful scene in Tolkien’s, The Fellowship of Ring, in which Frodo has decided that he must separate from the fellowship and venture on his own to destroy the ring.  Frodo sets out in a boat to cross the river, and the next thing you know his friend, Sam Gamgee is rushing into the water, as if he is going to swim to boat and join Frodo. The problem is, Sam doesn’t know how to swim! Frodo pulls him out of the water and into the boat with him, and Sam assures Frodo that he is not going on his journey alone! It was in Sam’s willingness to sacrifice himself that Frodo realized his worth … to Sam.

And it is in Jesus’ willingness to dive into the mess of this world to be with us and save us that we begin to realize the worth of our soul … to Jesus.