DAILY BYTEThis week we’ve considered some of the songs that were sung around the Christmas story as recorded in Luke’s gospel. We’ve listened to the songs of Elizabeth, Mary and Zechariah – each one pointing in some way or another to who God is and the ways in which God operates in our midst.
As we bring this week’s devotions to a close the questions I’d like you to consider are these, ‘What song will you be singing this Christmas, and what will it say about your understanding of who God is?’
There’s a funny story about some young schoolkids on their first day back of the new school year. The teacher asked them what they had done on Christmas. Little Johnny’s hand shot up and he said, “Teacher, on Christmas morning we woke up very early, opened all our presents, and then went to church and sang, ‘Hark the herald angels sing.’”
Next it was little Suzie’s turn. “Teacher,” she said, “on Christmas morning we also woke up very early, opened all our presents, and then went to church and sang, ‘While shepherds watched their flocks by night.’”
Then little Solly Abrahams put his hand up. The teacher wasn’t sure what to expect, especially seeing as though Solly’s dad owned a bottle store. He said, “Teacher, we also woke up very early on Christmas morning. And then we went down to daddy’s shop, and looked at the rows and rows of empty shelves, and then we sang, ‘What a friend we have in Jesus.’”
It’s a funny story (and hopefully one that hasn’t caused any offence), but it actually packs a serious punch. To what extent are we simply going through the motions in the songs we sing at Christmas? Or do the songs we sing express our experience of God’s action in our lives and our convictions of who God really is?
Over the next six days until Christmas, as you listen to Christmas carols being played in shopping malls, as you put on your favourite CD of Christmas music, as you go to church and sing, think about the songs that you hear and sing. Is there any resonance within you with the words, the sentiments, the sense of sacred mystery conveyed through the music and the lyrics? And will you dare to offer your very life as an instrument of praise that would proclaim the great and glorious things that God has done, and still continues to do?
In closing, consider these stirring words from St Augustine:
“You sing, of course, you sing, I can hear you. But make sure your life sings the same tune as your mouth. Sing with your voices. Sing with your hearts. Sing with your lives. Yes, sing with your lives. For the singer himself is the song.”
PRAY AS YOU GO
Most loving and gracious God, the celebration of Christmas is nearly upon us. Guard us from any sense of tired familiarity with the story of Jesus’ birth that we’ve heard many times before. Remind us that the coming of Christ is not simply an historical event that took place long ago, but is an ongoing reality in our lives here and now. As we listen again for the sound of angel’s song, and the songs of those who recognized your coming. May we this Christmas sing your praise not just with our lips, but with our lives. And may you take great joy and delight in the harmonies of praise that rise from us to you. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
(Psalm 100:1-2)
