This Christmas: Sing it Like You Mean it!

If there was one thing we’ll all do this week (besides open presents, eat lots of food and spend time with family), it will be to sing a Christmas song or two. Whether it be at church, at some gathering, or driving on the freeway – Christmas carols are sure to make their way into your life (or out of your mouth).

Some of these choruses are simply fun to join in on, but many of them are actually quite meaningful. Some even have the ability to focus our attention on the amazing truths of the gospel. The question is: Do we allow them to have that effect? Singing these Christmas carols (or we could call them Christmas hymns) often become just another tradition that we give little thought to.

But read a few lines from some of these popular Christmas hymns, and consider afresh the profound realities they communicate:

Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus

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.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

O holy Child of Bethlehem!

Descend to us we pray,

Cast out our sin, and enter in;

be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels

the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord Emmanuel.

Mary, Did You Know?

Mary, did you know

That your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know

That your Baby Boy has come to make you new?

This Child that you delivered, will soon deliver you

And last, but certainly not least, here are several portions from a favorite: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark the herald angels sing

“Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled”

 

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see

Hail the incarnate Deity

Pleased as man with man to dwell

Jesus, our Emmanuel

 

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

Those are just small portions from a handful of popular songs –But wow, the depth! Each of these lines could prompt an entire sermon! But unfortunately, these amazing concepts are often sung about far too casually. We often mouth the words, mindlessly sing, or drift off in thought as we proclaim God’s willingness to take on human flesh to reconcile sinners to himself. However, if we understand these truths, if our lives have been changed by these truths, if our eternity has been altered by these truths, we should be singing them with all we’ve got!

So this Christmas, when we get the chance to sing the glorious truths of the gospel, let’s sing it like we mean it!