Stephen spoke this morning from Ex 33:14, where the Lord, speaking to Moses, said, ‘My presence will go with You, and I will give you rest.‘ December is a busy time of year under normal circumstances and we often feel as though we have so much to do in terms of preparation for Christmas. This year has been so unusual that the sense of dislocation and busyness is probably greater than ever, so it is profoundly important that we learn to spend time in God’s presence and learn to rest in Him.
Pentatonix’s version of the carol ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ conveys something of the flurry and hustle and bustle of this tme of year, but the carol itself reminds us that there is rest to be found in the good news of Jesus Christ and tidings of ‘comfort and joy’ (which we surely all need at this tumultuous time.) If God Himself rested on the seventh day as an example to us, then we too need to take the time to rest in Him, to lay aside our busyness and the distractions which abound and come in simple focus on Him, knowing that His presence with us is what will carry us through.
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
In Bethlehem, in Israel
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Fear not then, said the Angel
Let nothing you affright
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s pow’r and might
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy. (‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’)
