Thursday, December 13, 2012

December 13th- "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

O Little town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight


For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.


O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell

O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel


What a favorite Christmas Carol….thoughts of cattle, sheep and hay.  It was a quiet night on the outskirts of Bethlehem, quiet but busy because of the census and with no room in the inn.   The Splendor of the heavens, Jesus God came.  One of my favorite lines in “O Little town of Bethlehem” is;

“How silently, how silently the wonderous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heaven.”
Oh yes, Jesus was born to offer the wonderous free gift of heaven….but this gift starts in human hearts that trust in Him alone for their rescue and salvation.  Those that see that their sin cannot be paid for expect for the Cross of Jesus and trust Him alone are given this free gift of grace.  This gift of eternal life…the blessing of His Heaven.  Jesus defined this eternal life in John 17:3 as knowing God the Father and Jesus His Son.  

“3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

To personally know and experience the One True God on a personal level is eternal life…the highest blessedness of the creature.  This wondrous gift is given in the person and work of Jesus Christ….so that God can impart to human hearts the blessings of His Heaven.  O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie…the everlasting Light has come!  

Here is a link to the song;  http://youtu.be/aEQDxDb91Dk

Cross references:


 


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