Earlier this year, worship leader, multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Austin Adamec and acclaimed vocalist, songwriter and former 1 Girl Nation member Lindsey Adamec came together to record a self-titled EP. Their worship album features standout tracks "Walk on Waves" and "It is Finished." 

The husband-wife duo creates pop-infused worship songs in the style of Love & the Outcome and Jennifer and Christopher Hopper. While touring and writing songs for their next worship release, they have recorded an original Christmas song. I had the chance to speak with Austin and Lindsey about "Welcome to the World You Made."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

Lindsey: "Welcome to the World You Made" started as a six word concept sent to us by our friend Tony Wood, who is a brilliant lyricist. We are longtime friends with Tony, both individually and as a couple. We've always looked up to him. He is passionate about Christmas, and he does a really good job of putting a different twist on Christmas. The concept came from him, and we went from there.

Austin: Tony sent us this concept, and we were in the middle of writing songs for our new full-length album. We got this idea for a song, and our producer Ian Eskelin got involved in talking with us about the idea of welcoming Jesus to the world He created. The lyrics and the melody started pouring out. You can think about the Christmas Scriptures from Luke 1 and Luke 2 and also the prophecies about Jesus coming. We immediately got intrigued in thinking about that night in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. We thought about the mystery of the incredibly humble welcome party for the Savior of the world. 

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Psalm 19:1-4 (NKJV): "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, ad their words to the end of the world."

1 John 4:8 (NKJV): "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

Daniel 12:3 (NIV): "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."

Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV): "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing."

Luke 2:13-14 (VOICE): "At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other messengers--a vast heavenly choir. They praised God. To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God! And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!"

Matthew 4:16 (NKJV): "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned."

John 8:12 (NKJV): "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'"

What is the takeaway message?

Austin: In Luke's Gospel we learn about Zechariah losing his ability to speak when he didn't believe at first the angel's message to him. God ultimately sent His Son to redeem the world. I was moved in thinking about Psalm 19, which says "the Heavens proclaim the glory of God and the skies proclaim His craftsmanship." I love the idea that we have to come to grips that creation knew more than we did that Jesus was coming. It is a beautiful thought that the stars shine brightly for the coming of the Creator, and they light up the night with praise. We wanted to say in the song that our King Jesus is all merciful and all gracious. We say in the song "King of mercy, King of grace, welcome to the world You made."

Lindsey: We love the idea that this is like a birthday song to Jesus, what we can bring Him for Christmas. It's a concept that our church in Jacksonville has been talking about, and this song is an expression of our thankfulness and all of creation worshiping Him on the day of His birth. What a gift it was for Him to lower Himself, to come down from perfection and give us perfect love in a world that is so desperate. We wanted to put out a song of hope and reposition our eyes and remember the day that mercy began. We hope the song helps people to celebrate with us at Christmas, no matter what season they find themselves in.

Lyrics:
Never been a moment in our history
Like this moment now in Bethlehem
Creation trembles at the mystery
Of a manger holding Heaven's King

You were on high
Now beneath our sky

The stars You formed all shine in wonder
Angel eyes are so amazed
The wind it whispers hallelujah
And fills the night alive with praise
King of mercy, King of grace
Welcome to the world You made

You could've left us here all alone
But Perfect Love had a different plan
You descended from Your ancient throne
Born on earth to save the heart of man

You were on high
Now beneath our sky

The stars You formed all shine in wonder
Angel eyes are so amazed
The wind it whispers hallelujah
And fills the night alive with praise
King of mercy, King of grace
Welcome to the world You made

We worship and adore You Jesus
The One who came to save

The stars You formed all shine in wonder
Angel eyes are so amazed
The wind it whispers hallelujah
And fills the night alive with praise
King of mercy, King of grace
Welcome to the world You made

This song is an amazing reminder of how we are called to be a light for Jesus, every day, "without complaining or arguing." I love how Austin and Lindsey interpret this Scripture in a way that we can identify with, calling us to know the confidence of living in Christ. I often feel like a dull person that isn't showing God's light in my life, and it is very affirming to know that my life shines for Christ even on my bad days. I love knowing that in my brokenness, I am actually closer to God. Jesus really loves us just as we are, not who we pretend to be. Not only does He love our weaknesses, he blesses us because of them.

From the first time I heard this song, I was hooked by the urgency and hope of the message. We all need to remember that Earth isn't our permanent home, and our freedom from the restlessness of this world will come when we enter the true rest that can only come from living eternally with Jesus Christ. As we are in this liturgical season of Advent leading up to Christmas, this song has become a personal worship anthem for me to sing daily and remember "You could've left us here all alone, but Perfect Love had a different plan. You descended from Your ancient throne, born on earth to save the heart of man." Amen to that! Merry Christmas!

Watch the lyric video below.