As we take time to look beyond the materialism that assaults us this season, join me in obeying what we read in the Bible
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
The reason for celebrating the birth of Jesus is found in this first message of hope :
Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,and between your offspring and her offspring;he shall bruise your head,and you shall bruise his heel.”
Let's look at the original words to Charles Wesley's hymn Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark, how all the welkin rings,
“Glory to the King of kings;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
Universal nature say,
“Christ the Lord is born to-day!”
Christ, by highest Heaven ador’d,
Christ, the everlasting Lord:
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb!
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate deity!
Pleased as man with men to appear,
Jesus! Our Immanuel here!
Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
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.
Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to thine.
Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface;
Stamp Thy image in its place.
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the life, the inner Man:
O! to all thyself impart,
Form’d in each believing heart.
We won't talk about all the verses as I want you as a family or individual find a friend and ask yourself some questions
1. What do you learn about God ? What is God like ?
2. What do you learn about man ? What is man's need or struggle?
3. How do you see God doing something about man's need?
4. What do you personally see in the message of this hymn ? What is the current condition of your inner man?
5. Can man do anything about his ruined nature?
6. Which verse alludes to genesis 3:15?
Write me if you want to know more about how to become a follower of the One, Jesus, the seed of the woman-
Born that man might be free from the power of the dragon (serpent)
And live at peace with God our creator and judge.
Some words you may not know
Welkin: heaven
Efface: to remove, erase, eradicate
Here is a link where you can sing this hymn
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