O Holy Night

i still haven't gotten the complete desire to recap this first semester yet, so what i'm going to leave you with tonight is a bit different.

two weeks ago, just a few days before i left Fayetteville for Christmas break, i attended The Link service for the first time. i had wanted to go all semester, but my discovery group with New Heights met on Sunday nights. but all of that is beside the point... here I was, for the first and last time. it was December 11th, so the service was deemed a "Christmas service." the teaching was great. the worship, incredible. during a beautiful rendition of the famous "O Holy Night," a verse I had never payed any attention to stopped me in my tracks.

we sang:
"Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease."

I was suddenly completely overcome with an unknown emotion. well, i guess the emotion wasn't so unknown as what evoked it. since that day i have known that these lyrics have struck a chord with me. but, even now, as i sit here trying to recap my thoughts, i can't quite pinpoint what exactly what they are supposed to mean in my life. every time i have seen or heard them since then, i've thought "wow, what powerful words." but why? what makes them so "powerful"?

maybe it's the individual words: love, peace, chains, brother, oppression. those are all words that have meant a lot to me in the past. and i can see how much they will need to continue to mean to me if i want to move forward in God's will. He has taught me love. His love for me. how i should love others. yes, i'm still learning, but it's because He is still teaching. law. i'm not pleasing man. i am working for the Lord and love is above all in His kingdom. in order to share the gospel, i can't be wrestling with my flesh at all times. i need to show peace. He has broken my chains. there are people far away and close to home who are in varying forms of chains. physical chains. emotional chains. whatever they may be, HE WILL BREAK THEM. i only have one physical brother and one physical sister. BUT i am in a sorority. that give me 300-something "sisters." some of them are slaves to sin. i hurt for them. they are facing oppression from the world and from Satan. and i have been given special gifts and placed with them for a reason.

it's scary. and sad. but also so hopeful. because the lyrics don't just say there is oppression. they say "ALL OPPRESSION SHALL CEASE." in His name.

in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit