Silent Night! Holy Night!
This morning I was reading the story behind the Christmas hymn "Silent Night! Holy Night!" At times, the song's lyrics and melody can seem overly nostalgic. They breath a sense of serenity that is unknown to most of us in our daily pace of life. Yet, maybe that is why we return to the song year after year. Could it be that we all long for the kind of peace, serenity, and holiness that the song creates in our hearts and minds? We all want to experience something of "Love's pure light!"
I want to remind us today that, Jesus is the One whom the writer refers to as "Love's pure light." Jesus is the One for whom the angels sang, "Peace on earth!" He is the Prince of peace, the One who is able to bring peace to our hearts and minds, not only during Christmas but throughout the year--throughout our lives.
I pray that God would fill you with the peace that Jesus came to bring. May you know what it means to experience "Love's pure light" within your heart, your home, and wherever you may go.
Thank you so much for faithfully reading and passing on my devotional blog throughout the year.
Have a blessed Christmas!
Pastor Tim Harris
I want to remind us today that, Jesus is the One whom the writer refers to as "Love's pure light." Jesus is the One for whom the angels sang, "Peace on earth!" He is the Prince of peace, the One who is able to bring peace to our hearts and minds, not only during Christmas but throughout the year--throughout our lives.
I pray that God would fill you with the peace that Jesus came to bring. May you know what it means to experience "Love's pure light" within your heart, your home, and wherever you may go.
Thank you so much for faithfully reading and passing on my devotional blog throughout the year.
Have a blessed Christmas!
Pastor Tim Harris
Pastor Tim! I have a question about Christmas. I have a friend who called this holiday a pagan holiday, and I tried to remind him that whatever the case may be, God uses it to remind people of why we celebrate Christ and not our day off at work. He eventually stood up for his case, and said that it isn't biblical. So, I just stopped arguing with him because Paul said to not cause division among believers. Any thoughts? -Martin
ReplyDeleteHi Martin. Nice to hear from you. Your friend's argument is weak and almost borders on ridiculous. It is true that December 25 was a pagan holiday because it is the first day after the winter solstice that the ancient people could see the lengthening of the day - so that they would not have the days getting shorter and shorter and eventually plunged into eternal darkness/night. When the Roman Empire was Christianized, it was deemed an appropriate day to remember the birth of Jesus the One who is the true light of the World; the One who keeps us from being plunged into eternal darkness! I wonder how much of church history your friend really knows and why and how it was that the church took over pagan celebrations and turned them into "holy days" - i.e. holidays. I would tell him, if he doesn't want to celebrate that is fine, but he should not steal the joy and celebrations - and holiness of the day - from others.
DeletePastor Tim! I have a question about Christmas. I have a friend who called this holiday a pagan holiday, and I tried to remind him that whatever the case may be, God uses it to remind people of why we celebrate Christ and not our day off at work. He eventually stood up for his case, and said that it isn't biblical. So, I just stopped arguing with him because Paul said to not cause division among believers. Any thoughts? -Martin
ReplyDelete