Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Verse 1

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us;

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear Desire of ev’ry nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Verse 2

Joy to those who long to see Thee

Day-spring from on high, appear.

Come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse,

Of Thy birth, we long to hear!

O’er the hills the angels singing

News, glad tidings of a birth;

“Go to Him your praises bringing

Christ the Lord has come to earth!”

Verse 3

Come to earth to taste our sadness,

He whose glories knew no end.

By His life He brings us gladness,

Our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.

Leaving riches without number,

Born within a cattle stall;

This the everlasting wonder,

Christ was born the Lord of all.

Verse 4

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child, and yet a King,

Born to reign in us for ever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all-sufficient merit

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

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Christmas, a Day for the Suffering 

He is with us. May we embrace Him no matter how we feel. Don’t let the insects in your light, dim your radiance for Him in how you suffer your suffering. We are one with the Crucified. His suffering bounds us to Him. May we, too bring glory to God in our darkest, lowest places this season. He is with you. His love has saved you. You may be unfaithful, but He is faithful. Worship Him today! May God meet you where you are this coming week. A holiday wrought with both joy and suffering. Merry Christmas!

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The Face-to-Face Nature of Christmas 

God is born among us, and He has a name. This name highlights His individuality, and this name is an offer of relationship to every single person. God became one of us not to save humanity in general but to save you, personally. We can view this truth in the way that the God-child interacts with people during His public ministry: He calls His disciples by name; He spends time with the sick; and He eats with sinners. In all circumstances, Jesus looks at the other person to reveal that He has come for them in a personal and life altering manner.

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