Luke 2:10

There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky! There’s a mother’s deep prayer, And a baby’s low cry! And the star rains its fire While the beautiful sing, For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King.

A number of years ago a remarkable Christmas card was published by the title “If Christ Had Not Come.” It was based on our Savior’s own words, “If I had not come,” in John 15:22. The card pictured a minister falling asleep in his study on Christmas morning and then dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

Tidings of glory! all the sky aflame, all Heaven hymning one imperial Name! Radiant glimpses of a Throne, a Crown, all splendor focused on one little town! Tidings of joy, good tidings of great joy! Supernal ecstasy without alloy! The death of sorrow and the end of pain, the bliss, bliss, bliss eternally to reign! News of Salvation! Jesus, Savior, Christ, bearer of mercy ample, and unpriced herald of freedom from the chains of sin, come to our hearts, Lord Jesus, enter in! Tidings to all the people, yea, to all! To kings and shepherds, to the great and small, to rich and poor, to ignorant and wise, to each his blessing from the liberal skies! Oh, for the ready eye and quickened ear, the Advent light to see, and song to hear! To every man and woman, girl and boy, in all the world, good tidings of great joy! AMOS R. WELLS

He gave us the best that He had! To Bethlehem they went to be enrolled; And there, in Caesar’s census book of old, His name was written ’mong the sons of men As Caesar’s subject: “Jesus”—followed then By “Son of Mary, born in David’s Town, Of David’s line”—the record thus set down. In a world’s book of life, a place they gave To “Jesus” who was born a world to save. They numbered Him with sinful men and poor, Though He was Son of God, Divine and pure. A heavenly census book His name alone Bears, on the title page; for ’tis His own, That Book of Life; and there, writ clear and plain Are names of those born in that King’s domain; All who alive for evermore shall be Are there enrolled for all eternity. Since He was numbered once with sinful men, We may be numbered as God’s own again. Though Caesar’s book has long since passed away, The Lamb’s blest Book of Life shall stand for aye. “THE CENSUS BOOKS” BY KAY MCCULLOUGH