Opening Prayer
Ah dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled;
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.
Text: Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Devotion
Now we will rejoice with great joy before the Lord, “According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil” (Isa 9:3). For the yoke and the rod and the staff the Lord has broken as in the day of Midian (Isa 9:4). Gideon has torn down the idolatrous altars (Jdg 6:25-29), routed the enemies, and made us free. This Child is our Brother, but also God’s Only-begotten; one of us, but at the same time the everlasting God. The Father gave us His Son. He belongs to us, He who is Prince and Lord over all, over heaven and earth, over law and sin, over death and the devil, – unto us He is born. He is righteous and fulfills all righteousness for us (Mat 3:15). He is Life and crushes the head of the prince of death (Gen 3:15). He takes all our concerns on Himself, – that’s why He is given to us, – He alone treads the winepress of wrath (Rev 19:15). He alone slays Goliath. He destroys Baal and his prophets (1Ki 18:40). God has not delivered us to our wretchedness, but has had mercy and sent us His Son as Savior, Counselor, Father, Prince of Peace. We were lost; we were, but we are no longer. We are saved and blessed. We were captive, but now we are free. We were doomed to death, but now we have eternal life. He has made everything good again and has brought us righteousness, love, peace, and salvation. My Jesus, how shall I thank You? My heavenly Father, how shall I thank You?
“Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” Born for us, given to us – that is pure grace, so that no one should remain helpless, no matter how unworthy. That is the purest grace, so all talk about worthiness is excluded here. And it is done: He is given to us – to us, lost and condemned creatures. To us a Child is born, to us a Son is given. This is pure joy and salvation!
Yes, God has indeed given us a great gift. God has done it, and the devil cannot destroy it. He cannot nullify it, either by preaching unbelief all around us, or by thoughts of unbelief within us. We are saved. The work of our God, already accomplished, the devil cannot take away. How happy it makes me to write this down right in front of the eyes of the enemy, to the honor and praise of my God! And you, my fellow believer, rejoice by reading these words of God! Midian is defeated. He can no longer say: “No.” All heaven and all the hosts of heaven say: “Yes,” and I say it with them from a heart filled with indescribable joy.
Now let Christmas, the joyous festival of children, make us like children. Then we will surely have great joy. If you really believed these things that God really has done for you, then you should jump up, get up and walk around, leaping and praising God (Act 3:8). For truly, all your sorrow becomes happiness, all your sadness joy, all your sin righteousness, and death now is nothing but life. This is sure and true in every way. But God hides it from your senses, because He wants you to have faith. I have also put away the beautiful Bible that my child got as a Baptism gift, until he is old enough to use it. I have told him that it is in my safekeeping, and he is sure of it, even though he has never seen it. Yes, blessed are you, if you believe. And now, have a very happy Christmas festival!
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, You gave us Your Son. Give us Your Holy Spirit’s light and grace to believe. O give us grace to believe and to receive the blessedness of grace in Christ. Praise to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, forevermore! Amen.
Hymn
Thy little ones, dear Lord, are we,
And come Thy lowly bed to see;
Enlighten ev’ry soul and mind,
That we the way to Thee may find.
With songs we hasten Thee to greet
And kiss the dust before Thy feet;
O blessed hour, O sweetest night,
That gave Thee birth, our soul’s delight.
Now welcome! From Thy heav’nly home
Thou to our vale of tears art come;
Man hath no off’ring for Thee save
The stable, manger, cross and grave.
Jesus, alas! How can it be
So few bestow a thought on Thee
Or on the love, so wondrous great,
That drew Thee down to our estate?
O draw us wholly to Thee, Lord,
Do Thou to us Thy grace accord,
True faith and love to us impart,
That we may hold Thee in our heart.
Brorson: L 130:1-5. ELH 144:1-5 tr. H. R. K. Spaeth;
tune: Her kommer dine arme smaa