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“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness" (Colossians 2:6,7).

At just seven years of age a thoughtful child wrote out an acrostic, spelling the letters of his name that expressed his strong faith and deep theology. I wonder how many of you have ever formulated such an acrostic for your name? I sure haven’t!

I –  I am a vile polluted lump of earth
S – So I’ve continued ever since my birth
A – Although Jehovah, grace doth daily give me
A – As sure this monster, Satan, will deceive me
C – Come therefore, Lord, from Satan’s claws relieve me

W – Wash me in Thy blood, O Christ
A – And grace divine impart
T – Then search and try the corners of my heart
T – That I in all things may be fit to do
S – Service to Thee, and Thy praise too.

Isaac Watts lived out his faith which is expressed in the acrostic and he is best known for writing enduring hymns for the church. Writer of some 750 hymns earned him the title of “The Father of Hymns”. Until he came along, most of the singing in British churches was from the Psalms of David. As a young man Isaac had become dissatisfied with the quality of singing, and he strongly felt the limitations of being able to sing only from the Psalms though he also included portions of the Psalms in some of his hymns.

Perhaps his best known hymn is “Joy To The World” which we associate with Christmas, though it was originally a song of rejoicing for God’s protection of His chosen people and the anticipation of the time when He would be God of the whole earth.

“Joy To The World”, written in 1719, also included Watts' interpretation of Psalm 98:4, "Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth". It is still sung all over the world including believers in the African country of Zimbabwe. About ten years ago our Zimbawean neighbors came over to sing the hymn for us in IsiNdebele, their native language. We turned our living room into a studio and Notsen, Thobekile, Nathan, and Neville sang Mhlaba Thokoza in IsiNdebele. Listen for the distinctive click sound heard in their language, which is related to Zulu. We post a link to the video below (1:45 minutes).

This Christmas season many of us will sing “Joy To The World” and many other carols with words so familiar that unfortunately we often pay little attention to their rich and deeper meaning.

The single line in the hymn we want to focus on today is "Let earth receive her King". Consider the conflict all over the world, particularly in Bethlehem, the town of Christ’s birth. The place where the Prince of Peace was born as a Baby is now a place of so much unrest. And all around the world there are so many places of strife.

The prayerful imploring of Isaac Watts is just as appropriate today as it was when he wrote “Let earth receive her King” and when John wrote the words of the daily text. “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

The children of God are those of any generation, of any nation, of any skin color, of any economic level, powerful or powerless, who have received the King, who have believed in His Name. And all over the earth today many are receiving the King of kings. Brooksyne and I chose to receive Him in our teen years. Have you chosen to receive Him? If so, we rejoice with you as brothers and sisters living for the kingdom of God. If not, we invite you to receive Him as King!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, there is nothing we can do in our own power or charm to receive Your favor, but we do receive Your forgiveness as we believe on Jesus and the wondrous work of His redemption through death on a cross. Because we choose to receive the King, we are no longer orphans or outcasts but are adopted into the royal lineage of Jesus, the eternal King of kings and Lord of lords. And because we are now Your sons and daughters; You sent the Spirit of Your Son into our hearts, who calls out, “Abba, Father” bringing us to the very heart of who You are, our loving, compassionate Father. We are eternally grateful. Amen.