Joy To The World

  The traditional Christmas carols are so familiar we often sing them without thinking about the words. There is a lot of theology in the words we so glibly sing. Consider these:

• God and sinners reconciled (Hark the Herald)
• Word of the Father now in flesh appearing (O Come All Ye Faithful)
• His law is love and His gospel is peace (O Holy Night)
• He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse [of sin] is found (Joy to the World)
• He came down to earth from Heaven who is God and Lord of all (Once in Royal David's City)
• The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight (O Little Town of Bethlehem)
• For lo the days are hastening on by prophet bards [inspired men] foretold (It Came Upon the Midnight Clear)
• He will bring us goodness and light (Do You Hear What I Hear)
• Son of God, love's pure Light . . . the dawn of redeeming grace (Silent Night)
• The King of Kings salvation brings (What Child Is This)

   Think about these words as you sing this Christmas. Jesus came to earth on a mission trip, for a specific purpose. His birth was the "dawn of redeeming grace" but it cost His life for "God and sinners [to be] reconciled."