Our Favorite Christmas Decoration
Filling our rooms with the sounds of Christmas music is by far our favorite Christmas decoration.
Some of the most popular Christmas songs have been sung by Christians for hundreds of years. Their lyrics contain a joyful hope that can right-size the Grinchiest of hearts and brighten up the dustiest of rooms.
This year, I was struck by the number of Christmas songs that celebrate Christ's kingly rule and Lordship. I had gone through the lyrical motions for years by singing these songs without pausing to reflect on the weightiness of their claims.
Here are 10 Christmas songs that remind us of His rule and reign, our hope and joy for this season.
1. Joy to the World (18th century)
"Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King!" (v.1)
"Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ!" (v.2)
"He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove." (v.4)
2. O Holy Night (19th century)
"So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In our all trials born to be our friend." (v. 2)
3. Silent Night (19th century)
"Silent night, holy night! Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth." (v. 3)
4. O Come, All Ye Faithful (18th century)
"O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
O come and behold Him, born the King of Angels
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord" (v.1)
5. What Child is This? (19th century)
"This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary" (chorus)
6. Mary, Did You Know? (20th century)
"Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?" (v. 3)
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (18th century)
"Hark! the herald angels sing,
'Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!' " (v. 1)
"Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of the Virgin's womb" (v. 2)
8. Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (18th century)
"Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
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." (v. 4)
9. O Come, O Come, Immanuel (12th century, versified in 18th century)
"O come, desire of nations,
Bind in one the hearts of all mankind
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease
And be Thyself our King of peace" (v. 7)
10. Angels We Have Heard on High (18th century)
"Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King." (v. 3)