“The highest, most holy
Light of light eternal
Born of a virgin, a mortal he comes;
Son of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
O Come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!”
Verse two of “O Come All Ye Faithful”
2022 Devotions
“Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” Matt. 25:40.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
Do you remember the television show “Mission Impossible”? The head of the Impossible Missions Force, Mr. Jim Phelps listens to a tape that will self-destruct in five seconds. He is given a choice to accept the assignment or not.
“Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” Matt. 25:40.
Jesus was answering His hearers when they asked, “When did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee” (Matt. 25:37-39)?
I cannot envision Jesus as a carpenter or preacher in Palestine, some two millennia ago, challenging the religious practices of His time. I do not see Him as artists through the ages have seen him; their art is from their own imagining of Him. But how He actually appeared in human form to people is not significant; it is what He said and did that has endured through time and guides us even now. He showed us how to live, teaching us that He comes to us in part through others.
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King.” (Psalm 98: 4-6)
God appeared in me and still appears to me through the treasure of holiday music.
