Christmas Bells

Have you heard any bells lately? Perhaps you have one of those doorbells that chime when someone presses it. Or if you live near a church, the bells may sound on a Sunday morning, calling everyone to worship God together. Every 15 minutes in our house, the clock sounds. We are quite used to hearing these chimes, as part of our daily lives. But other than this, I don’t hear bells very often, except at Christmastime, when I pass by a Salvation Army volunteer with a bucket for donations.

American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow heard bells on Christmas Day in Cambridge, and wrote the words that now compose the well-known carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Wadsworth wrote his poem during the American Civil War, and while he associated the sound of bells with this verse in Luke 2:14, he despaired of ever seeing the angel’s promise come true. His reality was that “hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will toward men.” We might feel the same way today, as war continues around the world, and people groups are persecuted without cause.

Where, then, is this peace and goodwill that we sing about every Christmas? The clue is found in later verses:
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor does He sleep,
For Christ is here; His Spirit near
Brings peace on earth, good will to men.”

When men repent and turn from sin
The Prince of Peace then enters in,
And grace imparts within their hearts
His peace on earth, good will to men.

Father God, I am so glad that you are not dead or sleeping! Through your Spirit’s work in me, let me be your emissary of peace and goodwill this Christmas season, that you might be glorified. Amen.

For Today: When you hear bells this Christmas season, check your heart! Is the Prince of Peace there? If not, perhaps this is the right time for you to repent of sin and let him enter in, bringing his grace, peace and goodwill into your world.