12/25/2022
It is Christmas Day and on this day long ago our savior, Jesus Christ was born in the city of David and His arrival was announced by an angel to shepherds tending their flocks. He was called our savior and brought with Him peace between God and man, but for man’s part, peace between themselves continued to be lost within their hearts.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Luke 2:11-14 KJV
So, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of God’s Son Jesus Christ and is intended to signal the beginning of a time of peace and goodwill toward men, but sometimes men don’t cooperate with God’s plan and His will for them. Despite His love for the world mankind continues to turn their backs on Him, and to hate one another. All of this contrary to the second great commandment… Love thy neighbor.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Matthew 22:37-39 KJV
Wars, which rage during Christmas, may have occasionally taken brief respites, but they are yet to be ended. This year, 2022, we continue to wait, and there is no better example than the war that rages on in the Ukraine where once again the Russian army has invaded that country and is slaughtering the innocents… the precious… the Christians.
This is a perfect year to listen to the innocent voices of boys as they sing “Carol of the Bells” which is a song that was composed by Mykola Leontovych a Ukrainian composer. He was killed in 1921 during a time when Russia previously moved to invade their Ukrainian neighbors, and his composition was later adapted to be a Christian Christmas Carol by Peter J. Wilhousky.
Listen to this wonderful rendition as it is sung by boys whose voices are as innocent as the modern day Ukrainian boys, men, and citizens who are dying in defense of their faith and freedom in Ukraine on this Christmas Day.
These lyrics are words of Christmas hope that have been sung for a hundred years, and are being clung to faithfully by Ukrainian Christians as they suffer at the hands of evil once more. In their hearts, they find that the angels continue to sing of the birth of Christ… the Prince of Peace.
So today, Christmas Day, let’s not only long for peace in our land, but pray for our enemies. Let’s pray that as the Christmas Bells ring in Ukraine and around the world, that Jesus will come to claim His bride, and war will end forevermore… all of this accompanied by hope, and the Carol of the Bells…
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would send your Son Jesus to live, suffer, die, and live again, all so that we would be reconciled with you. Thank you Lord, not for a momentary truce in which sin has been placed on hold, but for eternal peace for all who believe. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who has sent to us the Prince of Peace. Praised be your name for every shred of hope we have in you, and for the rest and peace we long for in Christ. Merciful are you who will resurrect the dead, and dry the tears of the martyrs on that day of your son’s return. Gracious are you whose grace pours out to us through Jesus, and for sending Him to live amongst us in human form to redeem us, and bring hope to all those who will believe. Take us in your arms Father, and wash us in the precious and innocent blood of Jesus. Cleanse us of every sin, and bathe us eternally in the peace and rest that our faith in Him brings. Let the sorrow and pain of hatred and war be vanquished, and your joy fill the void left by its retreat. Come now Jesus, and rescue us from the arrows of war, just as you came to rescued us from ourselves on that first Christmas Day.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 KJV
Lyrics:
Carol of the Bells
Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say
‘throw cares away.’
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold
Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All carolling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev’rywhere
Filling the air
Oh how they pound
Raising the sound
O’er hill and dale
Telling their tale
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev’ry home
Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say
‘throw cares away.’
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold
Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All carolling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev’rywhere
Filling the air
Oh how they pound
Raising the sound
O’er hill and dale
Telling their tale
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev’ry home
Have a Peaceful and Blessed Christmas
Rich Forbes