“Let us all with gladsome voice praise the God of heaven, Who, to bid our hearts rejoice, His own Son hath given.”

Christmas is the season we praise and thank our heavenly Father for the promised and wondrous gift of the Messiah, Christ-child. The giving and receiving of Christmas presents has become a big part of our holiday observance. Sometimes, though, the gift isn’t the right size, or not needed or wanted. The gift of our Savior is the perfect and much needed present for all people! This season our hearts rejoice: “His own Son hath given.”

“To this vale of tears He comes, Here to serve in sadness, That with Him in heaven’s fair homes we may reign in gladness.”

While we celebrate with much joy at the birth of Jesus, we know that the life He would live and give would not be easy. He took upon Himself all of the sins of all people. He lived perfectly under the Law and He died in payment of the consequences of sin under the Law, that we might be forgiven and free! He came to dwell with us in this sinful vale of tears “that with Him in heaven’s fair home, we may reign in gladness.”

“We are rich for He was poor; Is not this a wonder? Therefore praise God evermore here on earth and yonder.”

What a marvelous wonder this season brings. He who was rich, became poor. We who are poor miserable sinners became rich in His righteousness. The Apostle Paul writes of this in his second letter to the Corinthians, “Though He was rich, yet for our sakes, He became poor, so that through His poverty we might become rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9). We could never have paid the price of salvation. “Therefore we praise God evermore, here on earth and yonder.”

“Christ, our Lord, and Savior dear, Be Thou ever near us. Grant us now a glad new year. Amen, Jesus, hear us.”

All praise and honor and glory to God, the Emmanuel – “God with us!” “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14). This same Lord has promised that He would always be near us. In His Word and in the Sacraments He continues to dwell among us. So we can pray with all confidence, “Be, Thou ever near us.” In Christ, our Lord and Savior, we are assured of a Happy New Year and a joyous forever! To God be the glory!

~ Pastor Dennis Krueger