Seeking the Kingdom

Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

The songs of Christmas offer a beautiful opportunity for us to enter into God's Presence with praise and worship!  A favorite of mine is: "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" by Charles Wesley.  It was at Christmas time in 1990 when I understood the words for the first time, I was 22 years old.   

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth 

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Tears of joy came as I understood in some small way how Jesus humbly set aside the splendor of the heavens and the Presence of the Father to enter into our world!  The joy set before Him was the purchase of our lives . . . I had just experienced the second birth while at Old Dominion University; and the awe that GOD would value and rescue me with His own life, was overwhelming.  

I had sung many Christmas hymns at Epiphany United Methodist Church before that one, but this one was different.  I was a new creation in Christ and I no longer was singing for singing's sake, but rather singing to the One who came with such humility . . . to be one of us, to teach of the Kingdom, to love, to heal, to forgive sins, to wash feet, to bless children, to deliver from evil, to set the captives free, to be crucified, to rise, defeating death and to send the Holy Spirit!

Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Greg West