In Christmas 2020, our world clings to hope for rescue in so many places…vaccines, government power, cultural movements of justice, justice in the court system, human-made organizations.
Honestly, my heart has been gripped this year by an overwhelming disbelief in possible rescue through any human system. This pervasive gripping hasn’t turned to cynicism or hopelessness, but it has pummeled me into seeking the only One who can rescue or redeem our world. We need a Savior to rescue us from the inevitable results of our inborn sin. The effects of sin in all of humankind, in a fallen world, bring us to our knees this Christmas 2020.
He rescues us by His love
Who is the Rescuer? Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Oh, Holy Night includes a verse of rescue.
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Oh, that this would be so this Christmas, right? He teaches and commands us to love one another.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Mt. 22:39).
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you (Jn. 15:12).
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Mt. 5:44).
But how? Love is hardly infiltrating our divided, judgmental, opinionated, and hate-filled world. Is it impossible? No, first we all need a Rescuer, a Redeemer from our sin. We need His gospel of peace, producing peace with God forever, because we cannot love or experience true peace in any other way.
Sing to our Redeemer
The lyrics we sing for “Oh, Holy Night” are interpreted translations from the original French. Check out a different translation of this verse!
The Redeemer has broken every bond:
The earth is free, and heaven is open.
He sees a brother where there was only a slave.
Love unites those that iron had chained.
Who will tell Him of our gratitude,
For all of us He is born, He suffers and dies.
People stand up! Sing of your deliverance, Christmas.
Christmas, sing of the Redeemer, Christmas,
Christmas, sing of the Redeemer!
Dearest friends, just by being born, we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). We are all sinners, enslaved to sin and its effects, chained and oppressed by our sin, ending in death (Rom. 6:21-23). As this Christmas song declares, Jesus was born, suffered and died and now is alive to break those chains within those He draws to Himself!
What a gift to those who become His! We could never have earned it. One of our former pastors often rejoiced, “We lost it all, He did it all, and we get it all.”
Let’s not despair or fear, beloved in Christ! By His grace, He is daily helping us to live as people who have been redeemed and rescued, liberated and freed from our sin.
We celebrate the birth of our Prince of Peace! He has given us His perfect and loving righteousness in the place of our inborn sin nature so we have peace with the Lord for all eternity! Therefore, we can share His love with others in and through the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.
[We] having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness (Rom 6:18 ESV).
Let’s sing to our Redeemer who rescues us by His love
Let’s sing of our deliverance this Christmas as 2020 closes! Through our singing, let’s ask Him to fuel our gratitude for His gift of grace in saving us, especially on this hard Christmas. We belong to Jesus, Redeemer and Rescuer! Let’s sing of the Light of the world, let’s sing truths of the gospel to ourselves and others! “A thrill of hope – a weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”
Let’s ask Him to show us His perfectly personalized pathways to love Him and a weary world in 2021.
Would it help you to have a gospel-centered playlist of singable songs to stir your joy in what Jesus has done for you by the Lord’s immense gift of love and grace?
Would it help you to sing of His love to strengthen you for sharing His love with others in 2021?
I pray that this week’s Christmas playlist gift will help you to experience a renewed joy in His redemption and rescue! Sign up here and it will come to your email! Merry Christmas, beloved in Christ!
