Another Christmas has come and gone. Soon it will be time to take down the tree and the ornaments, and pack them away for next year. Next week we’ll be watching the huddled masses yearning to breathe free in Times Square. And then our vision will improve, for we’ll all see 2020.
But before all that, let me offer one last Christmas song to you for your consideration. The hymn below was written not by a clergyman but by a businessman, a manager of a marine insurance company in Scotland. The hymn writer uses the visit of the magi as an incentive to righteous living. He—and as we sing or read it, we—pray that we would always be drawn to God, that we would joyfully worship him, that we would give our all to him, and that Jesus would take us to heaven, where we may worship him perfectly. May that be our prayer throughout the coming year!
Happy New Year!
“As With Gladness Men of Old”, by William Chatterton Dix
1 As with gladness men of old
did the guiding star behold;
as with joy they hailed its light,
leading onward, beaming bright;
so, most gracious God, may we
evermore be led to thee.
2 As with joyful steps they sped
to that lowly cradle-bed,
there to bend the knee before
him whom heav’n and earth adore;
so may we with willing feet
ever seek thy mercy seat.
3 As they offered gifts most rare
at that cradle rude and bare;
so may we with holy joy,
pure, and free from sin’s alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to thee, our heav’nly King.
4 Holy Jesus, ev’ry day
keep us in the narrow way;
and when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed souls at last
where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds thy glory hide.
5 In the heav’nly country bright
need they no created light;
thou its light, its joy, its crown,
thou its sun which goes not down;
there forever may we sing
alleluias to our King.
Steve Hoogerhyde is a Ruling Elder.