Quick question for you. What Christmas Carol is placed as the concluding song on more albums than any other?
Answer: Silent Night.
Okay, I don’t have statistical proof. But I have looked at dozens and dozens of Christmas recordings. With few exceptions, they end with Silent Night.
But it’s the second phrase of that beloved Carol I want to look at today. Silent Night…HOLY night.
The word, holy, of course means set apart. That’s what you and I are supposed to be as followers of Christ: set apart. But ARE we? George Barna statistics would suggest otherwise. We divorce like the world…look at porn sites like the world.
Today as I rode in on the very crowded train, I was working on memorizing I John chapter 2. It’s tight quarters on a rush hour train bound for Chicago. So as I slightly turned my head, I could not avoid the screen of the smartphone next to me. Some guy had an inappropriate photo of a girl he was staring at.
Now at that very moment, I was faced with a choice. Do I cave in to my natural urges—my sinful passions? Or do I call to mind the fact that I’ve been set apart—made holy…and forcefully look away, resolved not to look back?
By the grace of God, I looked away. Now I’d be lying if I told you I never stumbled in situations like that. But those practical fleshly arenas are the very places where our commitment to Christ is either verified or falsified. And the choices come a thousand times a day.
Will I respond to that perceived insult…or will I return a blessing?
Will I feed my insatiable ego…or will I look on “the things of others”?
You and I cannot bask in the power of Jesus, the protection of Jesus, and not live life set apart for Jesus.
Silent night.
Holy night.
EVERY night.
That’s my prayer.