The story behind the hymn “Silent Night” is a compelling picture for our Christmas season. 

It was on a cold Christmas Eve in 1818 that an Austrian pastor, Joseph Franz Mohr, carried a poem he had written years before to his friend Franz Gruber. The Christmas Eve service was only hours away and a flood had destroyed the organ at the church. The pastor hoped his friend could put his poem to music that could be played on a guitar.

That is how “Stille Nacht” began. The hymn has been translated and many of the lyrics were altered from the original, but the spirit of the hymn remained. There is something profound in the quiet beauty of a candlelit sanctuary filled with people singing the timeless carol “Silent Night.” That moment reminds us that Christmas is a holy season.

It’s no wonder that the world has turned the season into a long list of things to do. Jesus warned his disciples, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” Satan is the “father of lies” (John 8:44). I like to teach that Satan is also the demon of distraction. There are so many “good” things to do each Christmas that we sometimes get distracted from those things that are godly.

“Silent Night” has been a favorite Christmas carol since it was written. Somehow, even a flooded church couldn’t stop Christmas worship. God blessed one man with an idea and another with a melody and their song has blessed countless people since. Satan would have chosen to kill and destroy a worship service in Austria. Jesus decided to bring abundant blessing instead.

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus was born to defeat Satan’s claim on God’s people. Christmas was a miraculous, abundant gift from God. We should be careful to measure the abundance of our holiday by his standards. 

Satan would love to distract us by killing plans, stealing our joy, and destroying all that God wants to bless us with. If we allow Jesus to work, he can inspire and lead us to enjoy a blessed Christmas, filled with abundance. 

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. Consider the lyrics of “Silent Night” and make this night a calm, “holy night.” May your Christmas be abundantly blessed as a result.