And The Soul Felt It's Worth

  A Christmas Message
By Jeff Johnson
 

I would like to thank you in advance for reading this message.  I know a lot of our schedules seem to not only be FULL to the brim at this time of year but running out of minutes before the celebration of the Savior’s birth.

This year there has been one hymn with one verse that has been resonating in my soul for not just myself but others as well.

Most of us hear this song and even sing this song every Christmas season but we don’t often “really” hear the lyrics, we see but we really don’t see…
And isn’t that true of a lot of hymns- if we get a chance to listen, meditate, study them, their authors and the God who inspired them we find them deep and rich with spiritual wisdom and nourishment.

Oh Holy Night,
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Think about it….”Oh yonder breaks a new and glorious morn because He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth.”  How often do we try to receive worth from our fellow man and our accomplishments?  How often do we pine away and seek meaning in the things that are only temporary?

We see and hear of individuals who seem to have everything… they have fame, fortune, glory, and yet they do the imaginable and take their lives.

Why do they do this? Do they put their worth and sanity in the “temporary”.  Man… the ways of man… and things of man, which are just as “temporary”.

In their idolatrous thinking, have they surrendered their souls to mere mortals and things?  What things do they forfeit their precious soul?   

Jesus said in “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36-37

In the book of Jeremiah God said, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh is strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5

Edward Mote wrote: “ My hope is built on nothing less then Jesus blood and righteousness.  I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.”

CHRISTMAS! And the soul felt it’s worth!

In all the disappointments in life is God on the throne in your heart or something else? Is there a thrilling hope knowing JESUS, was born of a virgin to show us our worth?

And the soul felt it’s worth…

Extraordinary to think that GOD became a baby boy- who became a man and even while growing and seeing all our faults saw worth in our soul and took upon himself the cross for our sins… that who shall believe in Him shall have life and eternal life in heaven.

And the soul felt it’s worth…

That we might realize this… and seeing this put our worth where it truly belongs, in HIM.

Some of you say “BUT I have messed up, I haven’t been living right. I can’t seem to get my life straight to come before Him.”

Do you still have breath in your body by the grace of God?  Then it’s not too late.  Come just as you are…. Turn to HIM.  Trust in HIM.  Give yourself to Him who gave Himself to you.     

Some of you say, “I have been told and showed I am not worthy by people’s words and actions.”

Are they God who created you? Did those people come down from heaven for you? Did they die on the cross for you?

And the soul felt it’s worth…

Not everyone wants a relationship with you.  Not everyone wants you on his or her team or side.  Not everyone understands you.  BUT the GOD who created you DOES!

And the soul felt it’s worth…

And God wants you to know His voice.  He wants you to live in the assurance of His love, that you may know your worth to Him in amongst this temporary experience we call life but is really an opportunity for us to come to know HIM who is LIFE!

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

That we may trade our weariness for a lasting REAL HOPE and rejoice in our soul of knowing Him- who came and gave it all for us!

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you.   Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your soul.”  Matthew 11:29

And the soul felt it’s worth…

We were all born with this need for the real and eternal God but it is up to us to turn to Him or the faulty things that never satisfy.

Jesus said “ God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”  

So when you see the images of a baby in a manger this Christmas… remember it was God that came down from heaven.  Remember it was to show you your worth to HIM.

John wrote this about Jesus, “He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.  So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:11-14

And the soul felt it’s worth…

I hope realizing this wonderful truth you will see more deeply the worth of yourself and in others this Christmas season and throughout the coming new year.  Turn to Him.. Thank Him.. Appreciate Him…and live and learn in Him. May it continue to be a new and glorious morn for you as your remember the real gift of Christmas- Jesus!

Oh Holy Night,
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Merry Christmas