O Holy Night: what I want to remember this Christmas

O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn

O Holy Night

This Christmas, I want to remember the hope that my Saviour’s birth has brought to the world.

Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born

O Holy Night

And I want to worship him. This Lord of all creation who came down to our messed up world, and was born in a lowly stable. This Christ who chose to save us. I want to kneel in awe. I want to thank him. I want to hear the angel voices, and echo their words: “Glory to God in highest heaven!” (Luke 2:14 NLT)

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace

O Holy Night

I want to remember what he said: “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” (John 15:12 NLT). And look how he has loved us! That he would come into this world to give himself for us. This Christmas, I want to remember the magnitude of this love, and to love others in the same way.

Chains He shall break
For the slave is our brother
And in His Name
All oppression shall cease

O Holy Night

It can be very easy to lose hope when we look at the world around us. Just looking at the news this Christmas, I see fire, destruction, hate, slavery, racism, pain and strife. But, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorry or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 NLT) There is hope in Jesus.

Sweet hymns of joy
In grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy Name
Christ is the Lord
O praise His Name forever
His power and glory
Evermore proclaim

O Holy Night

For these reasons I am praising God this Christmas, and throughout the rest of the year. I will enjoy the celebrations: spending time with family, giving presents, looking at Christmas lights, singing along to Aussie Christmas With Bucko & Champs (and other (normal) Christmas carols) and eating lots of good food.

But I will also rejoice in the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ as I remember that holy night and its reverberations throughout history.

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Lyrics of “O Holy Night” sourced from Hillsong Worship.