“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” Hebrews 12:28 ESV

I miss planning Christmas church services. During one of my tenures as a worship leader, I spent the month of August planning our annual church evening event. I loved having the time and motivation to deep dive into scripture, preparing to point my heart and the hearts of others not only to the point of Christmas, but also to our response to Christmas.

Because the impact of the birth of Jesus didn’t end on Christmas, and its impact shouldn’t end in the response of our hearts. Because without Christmas, Easter wouldn’t have happened.

So this is Week 1 of songs that not only help me focus on the point of Christmas, but help shape my long-lasting response to the eternal impact of Christmas.

Click here to listen: “O Holy Night”

I love listening to and singing this song. Some of the lyrics hit me in a special way:

“A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices“

• Thrill (Oxford Language Dictionary) “a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure”   
• “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:24-25 ESV
• “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 ESV

We can be excited and rejoice because of the hope that came at Christmas: the hope of salvation. We can have hope in God’s many promises made in Scripture, even if we don’t see what He’s doing right now.

“Fall on your knees“

• “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages. . . ” Romans 16:25 ESV
• “This phrase, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of things that are shaken – that is, things that have been made- in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. . . ” Hebrews 12:2 7-28 ESV

Sometimes when I’m super overwhelmed with life, all I can do is fall on my knees and give up because I can’t stand anymore. But the birth of Christ revealed the mystery of God’s plan to save His people, and His strength is my strength. And my response to this strength? Falling on my knees, not because I don’t have the strength to stand, but because I don’t have the desire to stand. I have the desire to worship “with reverence and awe.”

I think the final verse is my favorite! We hear lyrics not only about His birth, but about His life:

“Truly He taught us to love one another“

• “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11 ESV

“His law is love, and His gospel is peace.“

• “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he commanded us.” 1 John 3:23 ESV

“Chains shall He brake for the slave in our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease.”

• “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 ESV
• “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Romans 8:20-21 ESV

We also hear lyrics about our response:

“Sweet hymns of joy, in grateful chorus raise we“

• “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” Hebrews 12:28 ESV

“Let all within us praise His holy name.”

• “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” Psalm 86:12 ESV
• “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart.” Psalm 138:1 ESV

How does the song “O Holy Night” point you to the true point of and response to Christmas?

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” Hebrews 12:28 ESV