We are weary from a long two days of travel, Father, but so grateful for Your hedge of protection around us…and grateful to be home!
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As we listened to Christmas music on our way home yesterday, a couple of things came to mind. One, when you shop in most places this time of year Christmas muzak is constantly in the background. I regularly hear, not just the fun seasonal songs – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, White Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town to name just a few, but I regularly hear Christmas hymns, though we live in a predominately post-Christian area.
Secondly, let me pull out one song to the forefront. It happens to be a newer addition to the familiar collection of holiday favorites. The lyrics were written in 1984 by singer/comedian Mark Lowery and it is entitled Mary, Did You Know? According to Wikipedia, “The song has…become a modern Christmas classic, recorded by hundreds of artists over the years, across multiple genres. Different versions have reached the top ten in the Billboard R&B and Holiday charts.”
Just for fun here is a link for a post by Spinditty, entitled Who Sang it Best? “Mary, Did You Know?” (click on it to listen to several different artists. I will post one cover at the bottom of today’s post but for sure check out #5 on this list. Mark Lowry, himself, sings with a favorite group of mine, Voctave.)
Again, the number of individuals and groups that have recorded a cover of this song is extremely diverse. Just by the sheer number of individuals, there is an excellent chance that many of them do not have a personal relationship with Jesus.
A verse I seem to have used a fair amount recently is from Isaiah 55:11,
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it. NLT
I got to thinking that every time a Christmas hymn, or any Christmas song that mentions Jesus, is heard over a public address system or sung by someone, God’s word goes out! …it always produces fruit. The Amplified Bible says,
It will not return to Me void (useless, without result)
In midst of this Christmas season, the seed of God’s word is being planted in the hearts and minds of people regardless of their personal views on who God is and what He has done for us all. I challenge you to pray every time you hear a Christian Christmas song played if you happen to be out and about. Pray for all those who are hearing the song. Pray also for the artists who sang it, for God’s word always produces fruit.
