As the soft strains of “O Holy Night” fill the air, we’re reminded of a profound truth: God’s message often finds its way through the most unexpected channels. The story behind this beloved carol serves as a poignant illustration of how the Divine works in mysterious ways, often using the most unlikely vessels to spread His message of hope and redemption.

Imagine, if you will, a stagecoach rumbling along a dusty road. Inside sits Placide Cappeau, a man known for his socialist leanings, his anti-clerical stance, and his trade in wine and spirits. Not exactly the profile of a hymn writer, is it? Yet, it was in this unlikely setting that the words of “O Holy Night” were penned.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 1:27, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” How often do we limit God’s work to those we deem ‘worthy’ or ‘spiritual enough’? Cappeau’s story challenges us to broaden our perspective and recognize that God’s wisdom often confounds our human understanding.

Even more intriguing is the fact that Cappeau, the very author of these soul-stirring words, never truly believed them himself. He lived and died a secular humanist. Yet, the hymn he crafted has touched countless hearts and pointed many to the Christ he never personally embraced.

This paradox echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The creation and impact of “O Holy Night” serve as a powerful reminder that God’s truth can shine through even when the messenger is unaware of its light. It challenges us to consider: How might God be using us, despite our flaws and unbelief, to touch others with His grace?

As we reflect on the lyrics – “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth” – we’re confronted with the transformative power of Christ’s arrival. Even through the words of a non-believer, the profound truth of the Incarnation rings clear.

St. Augustine once said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” This love, so beautifully captured in “O Holy Night,” isn’t confined by our human limitations or beliefs. It breaks through, touching hearts and changing lives, often in ways we can’t foresee or understand.

So, as we listen to this timeless carol, let’s marvel at the God who uses all things for His glory. Let’s open our eyes to the ways He might be working through us, even in our moments of doubt or unbelief. And let’s embrace the hope encapsulated in those powerful words: “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”

May we, like the Wise Men led by the star, be guided by the light of faith, ever ready to fall on our knees in wonder at the miraculous ways God chooses to reveal Himself to a world in need of His love.

Christmas devotion: The Fall

“Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.” So the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman replied, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”

The original family was once united. Adam and Eve were unashamed and uninhibited in their love for one another and in their love for God. For a time all was good in the garden of Eden, the original family enjoyed the creation of God and his very presence on a daily basis. They were living the good life.

The good life came to a screeching halt one day as Adam and Eve did the one thing God had commanded them not to do, they ate the fruit of one of the forbidden trees. From the moment of their disobedience the first family experienced something they had never before experienced, brokenness. Their relationship changed form one of love and kindness to one of estrangement and accusations. They no longer enjoyed God’s presence, instead they cowered in fear as they hid themselves from His piercing eyes. The first family was lost, broken and fearful.

The hopelessness of the situation loomed large in their minds. The sadness of the situation caused God’s heart to ache. That heartache ultimately lead to Christmas.

During this season we sing a song with the lyrics “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.” The song poetically describes the grim lostness of mankind but it also reveals the the joy of God’s Christmas actions.

Our hope for you today is that you understand the reality of our collective sin and error, how it leads to our heartache. Furthermore, I hope you experience your soul feeling its worth. After all God loves you so much that He sent His only son to heal you from your brokenness!