Lights, Christmas trees, goodies fresh out of the oven, carols on the radio -- yep, we're in the middle of the holiday season once again and I love it! Christmas really is my favorite time of year. I especially like listening to Christmas music. My wife and son get tired of it, but not me and the girls, we love it.
One song in particular has got me thinking, the classic "Go Tell It On The Mountain" sung by Jewel. It's a simple hymn about proclaiming the good news of the birth of Christ, the Savior, to all the world. You've probably sung it many times in church around this time of year. The phrase that has really caught my attention as I listen to Jewel sing it is found in the last verse. It goes like this,
"He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born."
There's something about the way she sings "And if I am a Christian" that keeps making my wheels turn. Now, I don't know if she professes to be a Christian or not but she certainly sings these songs with meaning. The thing is, as I hear this phrase It makes me think about how many ways I could finish that sentence.
If I am a Christian... I will be kind to others.
If I am a Christian... I will be forgiving.
If I am a Christian... I will be generous.
If I am a Christian... I will pray.
If I am a Christian... I will love like Christ.
If I am a Christian... I will proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ, our hope and salvation is born. I will proclaim it with my my words, my songs, my attitude, my money, my actions, my choices -- with everything that I have and everything that I am. I will tell it on the mountain and live it in the valley. I will sing about it in church and offer a smile and a "Merry Christmas" to the person who bags my groceries.
You get the idea.
If Christians can't have and show the joy of Christ, especially during this time of year then we should be asking the question, "And if I am a Christian, then why am I so sour?"
If you are a Christian, then let the light of Christ shine in your life. If you're not a Christian then let me say to you that you can be. At Christmas we like to give and receive gifts. I think this is a wonderful tradition because it represents the gift that God wants to give you, eternal life through His Son. Romans 6:23 says,
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (ESV)
All you have to do is receive this gift by faith. I hope you receive many gifts this year but most of all I hope you have received this most precious one of all.
Merry Christmas, Paul Bryant.
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Editor's note: Paul Bryant is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Garfield. He can be contacted by email at [email protected]
Editorial on 12/17/2014