Devotion for the Week...
It's the first week of Advent! Is your tree up yet? Ours isn't, that will be our task next weekend, but I have been listening to lots of Christmas music 😊
This year for our Advent devotions, I'm going to look at four of our Christmas traditions and their origins in the Bible. Today I'm starting with all that Christmas music I've been enjoying. It's usually one of the first signs of Christmas approaching, but in the biblical accounts of Jesus' birth there are no mentions of anyone singing or playing any music. We almost always associate the host of angels who visited the shepherds with singing, but that's not what Luke records. "Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased'" (Luke 2:13-14).
But just because there's no biblical record of music around Jesus' birth doesn't mean we shouldn't have music to celebrate it today! There are plenty of times in the Bible that we are told to sing. These are just a few examples:
Ephesians 5:18-19: "be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts."
Psalm 100:1-2 says, "Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy."
Psalm 147:1 says, "Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting."
And Psalm 95:1-2 says, "Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him." That's in the New Living Translation, which is what I usually use. In the King James Version, though, those verses say, "O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms." That is very appropriate for me since my singing is definitely more on the level of joyful noise than actual music!
This Advent season, I'll be making my joyful noise to Him. There's plenty of Christmas music to sing along with, after all, and He doesn't mind that I can't sing worth beans 😊
What are your favourite Christmas songs? Mary's Boy Child, by Boney M, has been my favourite ever since I was a little girl.
I love to make a joyful noise to the Lord - I'm sure when we get to Heaven our voices will be perfect :-)
ReplyDeleteHere in the UK we will be able to meet in Church buildings but will have to wear masks and we are not permitted to sing. It is very odd being in Church, listening and/or watching a recording of the music group performing the hymns or carols and not joining in. It's a particular shame that we will not be able to have our usual Carol Services which are popular with people who rarely come to Church. We will be having Carol concerts instead.
My singing voice is definitely NOT what it used to be.. I'm thankful though that it sounds wonderful in God's ears!
ReplyDeleteOur local Christian radio station plays all Christmas music starting Dec. 1-Dec. 26 - not all of it is Christian, but some of the secular songs may catch the ear of someone scrolling through - and maybe they'll stay for the message of what Christmas is really all about! There's SO many new songs too - "Mary Did You Know" is a real fave, as is "Noel" by Lauren Daigle; and right now Josh Groban's Noel is on repeat on the CD player. :-)
Jannette I love what you wrote and agree totally. Leanne I am so glad i found you. you have lifted me when i need it most. I am so thankful we are allowed to sing. We have 1 service with masks and 1 for those who dont wish to wear one and we lift our voices. I agree about making a joyful "noise" but the Lord loves it just the same.
ReplyDeleteLeanne, I don’t remember how I became acquainted with you & your blog but definitely glad I did. In today’s world it’s so nice to find a fellow believer especially with like interests. Here in Maryland we are suppose to wear masks & have social distance. Our church reopened when given the go ahead & the majority wear masks. The assistant pastor who leads the song service says we sing stronger with our masks on & I think the fact that we are looking at the screens showing the words helps. Our heads aren’t tilted down looking at a hymnal. The children’s Christmas cantata is “While Shepherds Watched” so I’m sure they & us will hear singing. This will be live streamed if anyone would like to watch.
ReplyDeleteGreat observation! I just read what you wrote to my husband who is the song leader at church and loves Christmas songs.
ReplyDeleteThanks you so much for your inspiring words and the scriptures to back them up. I will look forward to the next advent message. Christmas carols seem to touch everyone, my personal favorite is Oh Holy Night.
ReplyDeleteThank you Leanne, what a joy it is to receive your emails! May the Lord bless you as you faithfully acknowledge him while teaching and encouraging those of us who enjoy similar interests. My singing leaves a lot to be desired so more and more I rely on others with the God given talent to 'sing praises to His name'. one of my favourite Christmas albums is by Pentatonix.
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