(We have been working our way through the Christmas Story in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1. Mary and Joseph have been visited by angels, endured very challenging circumstances, and finally watched the birth of the God of the Universe in a shelter for animals, before being sent to Egypt to escape King Herod’s Slaughter of the Innocents.)
The things of our faithful God are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness – things that encourage us to become more holy like Jesus. When we listen to and focus on the voices of this world – the voices that speak gloom and doom – we are not hearing the voice of God. God’s voice may convict us of our sin, but will never condemn us to despair and hopelessness.
The voice of God will call us to praise and worship Him. God’s voice will remind us of his faithfulness to us and our children from generation to generation. It will remind us that he is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider and Jehovah Rapha, our Healer. It will remind us of God’s great mercy and love poured out on us because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. It will remind us of great messages from God like these words from the Apostle Paul in Romans 15:13 (NIV): “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
God’s voice – God’s presence – God’s Spirit – always gives us hope. When we listen to the voices of the world in news, media, social media, and other people we can lose our ability to hear God’s voice. Ultimately, one of our main choices in life is whether we listen to the voice of the Lord or the voice of fear. Do we make decisions from a place of fear or from a place of faith in God’s love and protection and provisions? Do we listen to the voices of the world and their ensuing chaos, or do we listen to the strong and mighty voice of our conquering King? When we ask Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truths and righteousness, he will lead us into God’s love, God’s peace and God’s joy – no matter what the world is telling us and no matter our circumstances.
Some of our most treasured songs were created in times of challenging circumstances. You may have heard the story of the song “Silent Night” being hurriedly written to sing for a Christmas Eve service in Austria when the church organ broke down. You may not know that one of the writers of “Silent Night” was associate priest Joseph Mohr. Mohr had been born illegitimately at a time when illegitimacy meant no hope for social progress. However, he had a lovely singing voice and his choir director encouraged him to consider the priesthood, where, as a priest, he eventually became one of the writers of one of our most beloved carols.
Joseph Mohr was born illegitimately in a time when illegitimacy meant shame and ostracism.
Jesus Christ was born illegitimately at a time when his mother could have been stoned to death for adultery.
The priest Joseph Mohr died poor after having given away everything he had for the poor.
Jesus Christ died for our sins, after having given everything he had for us.
But Jesus’s story doesn’t end with death – it ends with life! He was resurrected and invites us to be a part of the New Life he offers. This is good news! Christmas reminds us that even in the midst of this bent, broken, troubled world, filled with chaos and plenty of competing voices, we can still come into the place of sweet friendship with God through Christ.
In this last week of Advent I invite you to ask God what voices you are listening to that are not His. I invite you to confess those places and, instead, ask God to fill you with the sweet presence of Holy Spirit and the fruits of that Spirit. I invite you to ask God what he wants to speak to you through His Story on this Silent Night.
God, help us choose to listen to your Voice this season. Help us to listen not to doubt, or despair, or fear. Help us to listen to the sweet voice of Holy Spirit and to live in a place of Belief, Faith, Hope, and Peace. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:13 NIV)