GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN

 

When I read the account of the birth of Jesus Christ in Luke 2:15-17, the Christmas carol "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" comes to mind. The lyrics of this song recount the entire narrative of the angels' appearance to the shepherds and their subsequent journey to Bethlehem, and then finding Mary, Joseph, and the baby in the manger. But did you know the song “Go Tell It on the Mountain” is another well-known and beloved song that describes the shepherds' decision to go to Bethlehem and what they did after seeing the Christ child. The song, although listed as a negro spiritual, represents just one of the countless contributions made to American music by enslaved people. This song represents a passion for life and living despite the suffering, humiliation, and unimaginable cruelty of slavery. Although the creators of spirituals will forever remain anonymous, the Work family and the Fisk University Jubilee Singers have played an important role in preserving and popularizing this uniquely American genre of music.

Luke 2:17 details how the shepherds "made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child" after they had seen him. Because most slaves were uneducated, these songs were passed along through a vibrant and rich oral tradition and were eventually captured and written down by one special American family. Not long after the Civil War, John Wesley Work, a Black choir director in Nashville, Tennessee, began a mission to write down melodies and lyrics of these well-known songs, often traveling hundreds of miles to seek former slaves who had sung this and other songs while they labored. These men and women reflect the shepherds' actions in sharing the good news after their visit, which is a key part of the passage.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:9, 10.

Through the years, the 25th of December has long been commemorated as the day of Jesus’ birth, and ... it is not my purpose to affirm or question the propriety of celebrating this event on this day, but to dwell upon the childhood and life of our Saviour. It is my purpose to call the attention of all to the humble manner in which the Redeemer came to the world.

All heaven was interested in the great event of Christ’s advent to earth. Heavenly messengers came to make known the birth of the long-promised, long-expected Saviour to the humble shepherds who were watching their flocks by night on the plains of Bethlehem. The first manifestation that attracted the notice of the shepherds at the birth of the Saviour, was a radiant light in the starry heavens, which filled them with wonder and admiration.... The astonished shepherds could scarcely comprehend the precious message borne to them by the angels, and when the radiant light had passed away, they said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” Luke 2:15-17.

What matchless love God has manifested for a fallen world! If angels sang because the Saviour was born in Bethlehem, shall not our hearts echo the glad strain today, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, goodwill to men? Although we do not know the exact day of Christ’s birth, we would honor the sacred event. May the Lord forbid that anyone should be so narrow-minded as to overlook the event because there is an uncertainty regarding the exact time. On the other hand:

1.     Let us do what we can to fasten our minds upon those things which are precious to everyone who loves God.

2.     Let us take a few moments during this season to read how Jesus came into the world to bring hope, comfort, peace, and happiness to all.

3.     Let the hearts of all respond with exceeding joy for the priceless gift God gave the world.

Like the Shepherds, let us urgently proclaim the everlasting gospel and the second coming of Jesus. This requires fearless, inspired communication and utilizing every means, including secular papers, to shed light on the world. To effectively carry out this work, we must accept the sacred duty, which requires a deep study of the Bible. Secondly, we must live out the word of God in our lives. If we do these two things, we will hasten Christ's return through a clear, transformed character, full of truth, earnest faith, and practical methods. “In the commission to His disciples, Christ not only outlined their work but gave them their message. Teach the people, He said, “to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” The disciples were to teach what Christ had taught. That which He had spoken, not only in person, but through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament, is here included. Human teachings are shut out. There is no place for tradition, for man’s theories and conclusions, or for church legislation. No laws ordained by ecclesiastical authority are included in the commission. None of these are Christ’s servants to teach. “The law and the prophets,” with the record of His own words and deeds, are the treasure committed to His modern-day disciples to be given to the world.

“The weighty obligation of warning a world of its coming doom is upon us. From every direction, far and near, calls are coming to us for help. The church, devotedly consecrated to the work, is to carry the message to the world: Come to the gospel feast; the supper is prepared, come.... Crowns, immortal crowns, are to be won. The kingdom of heaven is to be gained. A world, perishing in sin, is to be enlightened. The lost pearl is to be found. The lost sheep is to be brought back in safety to the fold. Who will join in the search? Who will bear the light to those who are wandering in the darkness of error?”

As we come down to the close of 2025. Let us find time for family during this busy season, and take some time to “Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere. Go, tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ was born.” 

May God bless you real good this season, is my prayer. Merry Christmas.

By GARDEN MINISTRY 

JOY TO THE WORLD

Have you ever wondered about the history behind the song 'Joy to the World'? Stay focused on the word of encouragement for the day, and learn a few valuable lessons. Did you know that “Joy to the World” was not written as a Christmas carol? In its original form, it had no connection to Christmas. It wasn’t even written to be a song.

 

The hymn "Joy to the World" was written by English Nonconformist minister, theologian, and prolific poet Isaac Watts in 1719. The song was based on Psalm 98, focusing on God's kingship, salvation, and coming judgment, with themes also touching on creation's praise and the Messiah's kingdom, using language from Psalms 96-98 and Genesis 3. The most remarkable aspect of the original song is that it glorified Christ's triumphant second coming, rather than his birth. In the mind of Watts, he based his poem, which became a hymn, on the word of God, celebrating God's coming in judgment and salvation, envisioning Christ's glorious return. It's a hymn about the second coming, with verses describing the world receiving its King and nature echoing His power, a concept fitting the triumphant Advent season.

Modern Usage: Only the first two verses of Watts' original text are commonly used today, focusing on the present joy and future reign of Christ. 

 

The familiar melody was arranged by Lowell Mason in 1839, adapted from earlier tunes often linked to Handel, making this powerful hymn a beloved Christmas classic despite its original focus on Christ's ultimate reign. Now, the song celebrates Christ's first coming (Incarnation) as a king entering the world to bring blessings and redemption from sin, and not anticipating His glorious second coming, where all creation will rejoice in His rule. The history of "Joy to the World" beautifully blends Old Testament prophecies and New Testament fulfillment of Christ's coming.

The words of this famous Christmas carol are:

 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King!

Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing!

And heaven and nature sing!

And heaven . . . and heaven . . . and nature sing.

 

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,

Repeat the sounding joy! Repeat the sounding joy!

Repeat . . . repeat . . . the sounding joy!

 

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make his blessings flow

Far as the curse is found!

Far as the curse is found!

Far as . . . far as . . . the curse is found!

 

He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove

The glories of his righteousness

And wonders of his love!

And wonders of his love!

And wonders . . . wonders . . . of his love!

Today, we sing this powerful music, which has and still creates a timeless celebration of Jesus' reign, past, present, and future. Unfortunately, there will be no joy in many families this yuletide season due to the fact of job losses, increased living costs, food insecurity, people threatened, frustration, the increase of violence, the instances of murder, and the challenging environment has created a challenging time for many families in 2025, leading to significant financial hardship and emotional distress has undoubtedly diminished the festive spirit for many this holiday season. These societal and economic pressures have created a difficult environment for families to thrive and find joy. Yet, through it all, something within still causes us to seek hope and a better day. Yes, during these days of hardship for many, seeking support and practical assistance can be a crucial step towards finding hope and improving one's circumstances. 

On this point of bringing joy to the world. Unselfish labor and kindness reflects God's own giving nature, transforming our character and bringing "peace and happiness".

This is because, giving, especially when done cheerfully and unselfishly, brings deep, lasting joy to both the giver and receiver, reflecting Christ's love and fostering spiritual growth, transforming duty into delight by opening the heart to God's blessings and connecting us to others' needs, making our lives more godlike and filled with purpose. The acts of kindness, even small ones, are like a "cup of cold water," uplifting weary souls and expressing God's love, turning giving from a mere obligation into a privilege and a source of true happiness. As we go through this day, may we bring joy to someone's life in our giving.

On behalf of myself and family, we wish you the joys of the season and a prosperous New Year. 

 

LESSONS FROM THE SABBATH*

The Sabbath day runs from Sundown on Friday to Sundown on Saturday. This is a day of rest, worship, family, reflection of our Creator and Sanctifier, and communion with nature. 

To those who honor God by obedience to His command to remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy, God gives spiritual rejuvenation. 

The Sabbath is a memorial of creation, a sign of our relationship with God, and a foretaste of eternal rest. The Sabbath is a "golden clasp" uniting God with His children. 

On the point that the Sabbath is a time of rest, let us take a deeper look at the subject of rest. This month, we are taking a look at the Season of Giving. Today’s message is one we all overlook, and that is giving ourselves permission to rest. "Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work." By Ralph Marston. 

December is the busiest time of the year for many people during the “Yuletide Season.” If it isn't one thing, it's another, so how can you get good rest during the holidays? To help us answer this question, let us look at a story from Loma Linda University. “A bright, young medical student at Loma Linda found himself burning out. Getting up at four in the morning, working until midnight, he struggled to keep up with his strenuous curriculum, but to no avail. He fell farther and farther behind.

“In desperation, he went to his professor for help. Being an astute man, the professor recommended that Tom get at least seven hours of sleep each night, no matter what, and thirty minutes of vigorous exercise every day. Tom was incredulous, but at last he reluctantly agreed to give this program a try. After all, he was so far down he had nothing to lose. To his utter amazement, his grades began to improve within just two weeks. By the end of the year, he was in the upper third of his class and in due time successfully completed his medical training.”— “I’m So Tired,” Hardinge Lifestyle Series (Loma Linda, Calif., Loma Linda University School of Health, 1988), pp. 3-5.

 Many of us are just like Tom. We all need to have daily rest, as well as weekly rest, to achieve optimum health physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially."

 The need for rest and good health:

 All of us are aware of the need to rest. We need food, we need water, and we need rest to maintain good health. So often our bodies themselves give us the signal that it is time to rest, and so often the signals are loud and clear. Much of the time, if we listened to what our bodies tell us, we would get enough rest. Unfortunately, we so often are caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, of earning money, of running here and there, that we don’t listen to our own flesh. How many folk—struck down by sickness—have finally been forced to rest, and for a long time, too, who otherwise would have been fine had they listened to what their own bodies were telling them?

 Sooner or later, we will rest—one way or another. The question is, why not do it the best way possible? What signals does your body send to you, telling you it’s time to slow down and rest? But how well do you listen to your body?

 Everyone needs rest:

 Every living creature needs time for rest to restore what has been used. Consider the word restoration, which means “the act of returning to an original state or condition.” In adjective form, it means a “reinvigorating medicine” or “anything that reinvigorates.” “Sleep, nature’s sweet restorer, invigorates the tired body and prepares it for the next day’s duties."

 We need to realize our limitations. We cannot do our work in our own strength. God promises grace to cope with our work. In regular rest, we permit the Lord to restore our bodies so we will awaken refreshed, ready to do His will."

 What is essential

 Work and rest are essential parts of God's design. The command for weekly and daily rest was given as a blessing, not a burden, to help people realign their hearts with God and good health. During His busy days of ministry after His baptism until His death, Jesus sought quiet places to rest with his disciples, setting an example for all of God's workers and humanity at large. The Word of God strongly advocated for a balanced life that includes deliberate periods of rest and a measured pace, warning against the physical and spiritual dangers of constant hurry and overwork. Rest is a divine provision for physical, mental, and spiritual rejuvenation. 

 What Does the Bible Say About Rest?

 "In Psalms 46:10, God reminds us of the importance of rest, challenging us to 'Be still.” At times, it’s hard to even imagine taking a break from the hustle and bustle of life. Although difficult, taking breaks throughout the day is needed to provide clarity to your mind and renewed strength for your body." 

While many of us can feel that needing to rest is a sign of weakness or laziness, God offers rest as a blessing to those who trust Him fully.

 In peace I will lie down and sleep; for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8.

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat, for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalm 127:2.

What is the relationship between the soul's rest and God?

Truly, my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5.

Application:

“The need for reinvigoration arises from burnout, monotony, and depleted energy, requiring intentional restoration for better mental, physical, and professional performance, achieved by breaking routines, setting new goals, seeking new experiences, focusing on self-care, and aligning actions with purpose to boost creativity, productivity, and overall well-being.” Something as simple as stepping outside for some fresh air or praying for guidance can bring immediate relief. Short breaks throughout the day, such as a 10-minute walk, listening to a song, or reading a page of a book, can help lower stress levels and refocus the mind. Whenever stress builds up, mistakes become more likely. If you work all week and never take a break, you could find yourself falling asleep at the wheel while driving or suffering from migraines or other physical ailments. Quick, restorative activities throughout the day will reset your mind and body, making it easier to handle challenges and hear God’s voice more clearly. As you go through your day, remember, “If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit." By Banksy. Have a wonderful day.