One of the Best Parts of Christmas

December 19, 2018

Christmas is such a fabulous holiday—there are so many things about it I love. I love a white Christmas. But there’s not always snow. I love getting together with family and sharing traditions—but sometimes you can’t be with family, or you don’t have family and traditions that make that possible. I love holidays movies, but some years life just doesn’t organize itself in a way that I can see any. I love so much about Christmas, but not all of it is dependable every single year.

However, there are two things that are certain every Christmas: Christmas music is the first. Even if you aren’t around a radio or able to go to a concert to hear your favorites or a new one this year that you really like (my new fun song I like is Candy Cane Lane by Sia), you can sing those songs by yourself. You can belt them out in the car, in the shower, or anytime your kids need a little amusement. Christmas songs are ALWAYS dependable.

But the other element that is certain every Christmas is Jesus, as we have said so often it seems trite: Jesus is the reason for the season! Whether you are healthy or well, old or young, male or female, rich or poor, happy or sad, high IQ or on the other end—whatever nationality or ethnic background, Jesus is available to you and me every Christmas, and every day before and after as well.

The purpose of Christmas, the purpose of the coming of Jesus is to restore relationship with God for us and to make a forgiven past, a free and fulfilling present, and a fantastic forever future possible.

The words of these beautiful Christmas songs every single year fill my heart. They are my favorites:

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen– Tidings of comfort and joy come from knowing that “Jesus Christ our Savior” was born “to save us all from Satan’s power, when we were gone astray.” He did that for me!

O Holy Night reminds me that the world was “in sin and error pining,”wasting away until our dear Savior “appeared and the soul felt its worth.” Self-worth comes from being set right with God. The thrill of hope in weary world rings through every part of the world when we realize that we have a Savior!

Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus, the oldest of these three beautiful carols, tells His purpose:

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine own sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Those are my favorites. I’m humming them right now, and feeling Christmas in my heart. What are the songs that bring Jesus and Christmas to you profoundly each Christmas? If you have Jesus and music, it’s Christmas.