This year in our Advent Devotionals we are going to use some of the more well known Christmas Carols to help us draw nearer to Christ this Christmas. As we look at Scripture and the truth taught through these carols, I pray the significance of Christ’s birth will be more real to you this year.
Carols were an early form of sacred music, dating from the early middle ages. They were an integral part of the early mystery and miracle plays that the medieval church used to communicate religious teaching. Carols were sung in-between the scenes of the dramatic production. We are also going to use them as a tool to teach, both in these devotionals, and in our elementary Children’s program on Dec. 20.
O Come, All Ye Faithful is a summons or request to worship Jesus. It’s a call to the faithful, but who are the faithful? Those who are faithful are those who are unwavering in belief, those who are loyal to what they believe and who they believe in.
The faithful are those who have trusted Christ, continuing to hope in the gospel, as Paul states in Col. 1:23, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard…
The faithful understand that they are victorious and triumphant only because of what Jesus has done. They understand their triumph was displayed through Jesus birth, showing his power over the devil even in his birth and life.
As the first verse of this carol states, we should be joyful! Our joy is in the fact that he has chosen us and made us his children, and we are triumphant only through him. As you rejoice in Jesus’ birth, rejoice also in the triumph he has accomplished for you, if you are one of his faithful ones.
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Verse 1: O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him Born the King of angels; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Verse 2: God of God, Light of Light, lo, he abhors not the Virgin’s womb, very God, begotten, not created.
Verse 3: Sing, choirs of angels; Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
Verse 4: Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning: Jesus, to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing;
I Commend Joy! 