No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37 ESV
Do not be deceived.
We are not promised victory in all of our endeavors. We are promised victory over sin, sadness, and unforgiveness and fear as we encounter temptation, troubles, and persecution.
It is time to continue looking at the hymns and songs that had an impact on my spiritual life, and this week I have another of my top three Christmas carols.
Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see
Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
When we come
Little baby
Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too
Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give our King
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you
Pa rum pum pum pum
On my drum
Mary nodded
Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
Here is why I really like this song:
We are invited to come to the King of all Creation. We must realize that we nothing to bring other than what He has given us, so we really have nothing to offer. But …
If we only seek to give our best, our all (even though we may – will – fall short, He only desires that we obey His commands and draw near to Him), Jesus will smile on us. It is His faithfulness that we rely on. We merely let Him call the shots and help us get through.
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
Luke 6:37, ESV
This is not a command against judging others. Jesus is telling us to use wise judgment, grounded in God’s Word, and to show grace and forgiveness while calling out sin, but also to be open to sin in our own life being called out.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:10, ESV
We can know that Jesus is Lord, but unless we believe in our innermost being and are willing to tell others, we are not saved and justified.
Move past mere head knowledge. Even Satan knows Jesus is the Son of God …
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4, ESV
Do not fall for many popular preachers’ message of claiming everything you want in the name of jesus.
Desire God and His will, and you will receive those desires.
(But He does enjoy giving gifts.)
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Jeremiah 33:3, ESV
Some claim we will all prophesy, based on such passages.
Rather, the Father wants to share salvation and sanctification with us. Call on Him, and the Son will be revealed to you through the Holy Spirit.
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:5, ESV
God did not need us.
But He created us, even knowing how we would treat Him.
But He told us in the Garden of Eden that He had a plan to save us, and one day He will make all things new.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV
If you count yourself among the redeemed of Christ, realize that your body no longer belongs to you but to to God. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, but do well to watch how you act, what you eat and drink, and how you use your body.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12, ESV
We do not know true light nor can we truly see our sin and wickedness apart from following Christ, obeying His commands.
As we continue looking at the hymns and songs that had an impact on my spiritual life, we move into controversial territory. What is less controversial about it is that I at least waited until Thanksgiving weekend.
Yep. Christmas music! And here is one of my top all-time three.
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joyFrom God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
“Fear not then,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Why is this one of my all-time favorite Christmas carols and songs? It is the Gospel laid out.
Words have meanings. Whether “rest” meant “keep” or “make”, or whether merry means “mighty” or “joyful”, the song still works. If it is “God keep you joyful, Gentlemen” or “God make you mighty, Gentlemen” or even “God keep you mighty” or “God make you joyful” … IT JUST WORKS!
Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, one can be made mighty for God and joyful in grace and forgiveness. The main point of the entire song is that when we put our faith in the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, we are saved from the ravages of sin, saved from the loss of relationships with other people and with God, saved from eternal death, and saved from God’s wrath and the schemes of the Devil.
Also, it tends to be a dang happy song! (Sorry for the language.)
a simple man of God 