Saturday, December 25, 2021

What Child is This? - December 25, 2021

 


What Child is This? - December 25, 2021

 

Merry Christmas! Jesus is born! Emmanuel God with us!

 

Galatians 4:4-7, NLT - But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child.[e] And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

 

This is my favorite Christmas carol.  Here is a paragraph from Wikipedia about the song:

 

“"What Child Is This?" is a Christmas carol whose lyrics were written by William Chatterton Dix, in 1865. At the time of composing the carol, Dix worked as an insurance company manager and had been struck by a severe illness. While recovering, he underwent a spiritual renewal that led him to write several hymns, including lyrics to this carol that was subsequently set to the tune of "Greensleeves", a traditional English folk song. Although it was written in Great Britain, the carol is more popular in the United States than in its country of origin today.”

 

This has been my favorite Carol since childhood.  I remember the moment it became my favorite although the details are a little fuzzy now.  What I remember was that I was in church singing this song and at some point in the singing, I realized that this Jesus story that I always heard at church wasn’t a story at all, but history.  Jesus really was born and He really was the Son of God:

 

“This, this is Christ, the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!”

 

I had answered the title question for myself.  And that is a significant moment for anyone.  At some point your faith in Jesus has to become YOUR faith.  You have to decide for yourself “What Child is This?”  For millions of people, this day is a day of presents and family togetherness and nothing more.  For others, this Child is acknowledged as the reason for the day, but is forgotten after the presents are opened.  For others, this Child is a Sunday relationship.  But for others, this Child becomes a lot more.  For still others This Child is everything.  Their entire life belongs to This Child.  What about you? 

 

Question:  What is your answer to “What Child is This?”

 

Prayer:  Jesus, we welcome your birth to us this day and every day.  You are so many things to so many!  May we be clear not only who you are to us in this moment, but who you want to be to us moving forward.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for Jesus to be known by more people this year.

 

Song:  Chris Tomlin (ft. All Sons & Daughters) - What Child Is This?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jroBAl3WW8

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