Up-and-coming Christian contemporary artist Anne Wilson's Christmas single, "The Manger," featuring country singer Josh Turner is a great collaboration. The song's lyrics focus on what Christmas is all about. A time to remember how the birth of Jesus changed the world.
"From the highest of the high/To the lowest of the low/That stable tells a story of the distance You will go/For the lonely and the lost/There's no sinner too far gone to find a Savior/Lying in the manger"
Christmas reminds us of the gospel message
"They're putting decorations up in front of my old church/The shepherds and the wise men and the hay/There's Joseph and his Mary lookin' down at Heaven's birth/And the angel's saying don't you be afraid/It makes me stop and think about how You showed up down here/In a humble bed made of nails and wood"
Matthew 1:21 (NLT): "And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
John 3:16 (NLT): "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
Church holidays remind us of the core events of our faith. That's part of what makes the Christmas season so special, isn't it? The sense of remembering. In the first verse, Anne captures the reminders so well as she sings about how certain Christmas decorations remind her of Jesus coming to earth.
We quote John 3:16 a lot around Easter remembering the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection. But we should quote the scripture more at Christmas, too. You see, in that verse, we learn that God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to save the world because He loves the world. And, Christmas was the beginning; God sent His Son. Christmas is a time for us to reflect on why Jesus came to earth and His victory over sin and death that reconciles us to God when we believe in Him.
Christmas is a time for us to stand in awe at both the power and humility our great God demonstrated. He was willing to become like us, to experience being a human so He could empathize with our tests and temptations. Jesus lived victoriously over sin and temptation so He could offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice to pay for our sins, as outlined in Philippians 2:5-11.
What a story. What a gift.
Christmas reminds us of the gospel's power in our lives
"There's a star up in the sky that's calling all the least of these/Come make your way to where your hope is found/If I'm honest some days I feel too far out of reach/But the manger reminds me love reached down"
These standout lyrics show us that, even as followers of Jesus, we still need to be reminded of God's good news. We don't always feel strong in our faith, or strong as we respond to life's trials. We have weaknesses. We make mistakes. We sin. And let's be real, it's easy to get down on ourselves about those things--and I don't mean in a good, godly conviction kind of way. I don't think I'm alone in that struggle.
But when our emotions or lies of the enemy try to condemn us and make us feel like we're too far gone and God has given up on us, we can remember our Savior, lying in a manger. We can remember that He came to earth to save us, make us more like Him, and give us eternal life. We can remember that the coming of Jesus to earth and His work on the cross are a constant testimony of His love and commitment to complete His work in us.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas season, don't miss the opportunity to slow down, reflect, worship, and remind yourself of the gospel. Carry its life-changing truth in your heart and share it with others at Christmas and every day of the year.
Find "The Manger" on Anne Wilson's Christmas EP, The Manger. Buy the album on Apple Music or stream it on Spotify. Read the full lyrics of "The Manger" here.
NRT contributor Jasmin Patterson is a lifelong fan of Christian music who is passionate about helping others connect with Christ. She lives in Kansas City where she serves in college ministry and runs a blog to help seekers and believers discover and live biblical Christianity.
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