We’ve planned the readers, chosen the carols, and decorated the church. We’ve printed the invitations and asked our friends along. We’ve arranged the pre-carols parties, and after church dinners. We’ve even found our Christmas jumpers. We’re ready for the carol service season to begin! And yet there’s one thing we might still forget.
Carol services are for Christians too.
Yes. They’re a wonderful chance to bring friends along to church. They’re an incredible opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Carols services are both these things. And they are also good for Christians.
Carol services help us remember Jesus and his rescue
When God did his first great rescue (the exodus) he told his people to remember what he had done (and to tell their kids so they’d remember too!) (Exodus 12: 14-20). He wanted them to recall that their God is powerful, a rescuer, the one who provides the sacrifice that rescues from judgement. As they wandered through the desert, remembering these things should help them trust their rescuing God.
And we’re the same position (Hebrews 3:7-4:2). We need to remember what God has done in sending Jesus: his power, his rescue, his sacrifice. As we wander through this world, it’ll matter that we remember, so that we keep trusting and believing in our rescuing God until the end.
Come to carols eager to hear old truths, spoken and sung, and remember again - they are true. Come willing to remind others how wonderful our rescuer is.
We can go further than just recalling facts though.
Carol services help us meditate on Jesus and his rescue
Biblical meditation (thinking deeply, reflectively, and prayerfully about God and his words) is big in the Psalms (e.g. Psalm 1:1-2, Psalm 119: 15-16). The Psalmist knows thinking deeply about God and his past rescues will help him believe more and more, as he waits for his future rescue.
We will believe the good news of Jesus and his rescue more and more deeply, if we don’t simply recount the nativity story once a year, but take truths about Jesus, and turn them over in their minds. If we keep asking ourselves questions like: do we still believe Jesus provides this rescue, do I still love Jesus, and am I still thanking God for jim?
Come to carols, eager to think again about Jesus. As you sing about him and hear about him, ponder again, and praise God afresh for our wonderful Savior Jesus.
O Come All Ye Faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels; O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
