Advent Day 13 - Be Born In Us Today

… the writer of this carol takes us to the dark streets of this sleepy town, he also helps us to see what is happening in the heavens around Bethlehem—what human eyes cannot see. “While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth. . . .We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell.” This helps us see what is unseen—all of heaven bending down to see what God was doing as he brought Jesus into this world. The angels looked on in awe and wonder, helping us to see the wonder of it all.

So this carol focuses our eyes on the earthly town of Bethlehem, then the heavenly realm of angels, and finally, on our own hearts: “God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n.” This promise is offered to “meek souls” who “will receive Him still.” And that is what we want to have this Advent season—souls that are marked by meekness, making us receptive to Christ.

It is one thing for us to read about the coming of Jesus and consider it as historical reality or even spiritual truth. But it is something else to truly engage with this reality and truth, to consciously invite this Child of Bethlehem to be “born in us”—to dwell in us by his Spirit. So as we sing this song, we’re not just singing about a little town in which Jesus was born. We’re singing a song of invitation to Jesus himself, throwing open the doors of our hearts, welcoming him to be born in our lives. The final verse… gives us words to invite the wonder of this reality to penetrate our own lives and become real and meaningful to us. As you sing this song as a family, be sure to add the final verse, offering it as a prayer from your hearts…[1]

-- Nancy Guthrie

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[Verse 1]
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in the dark street shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

[Verse 2]
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God, the King
And peace to men on earth

[Verse 3]
How silently, how silently
The wondrous Gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in

[Verse 4]
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
Oh, come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Immanuel!

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[1] Guthrie, Nancy. Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room: Daily Family Devotions for Advent . Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.