The Hope Of Bethlehem.
Christmas is in full swing at The Seeing Place, my family’s non-profit community theater, and we have been immersed in all its festive magic. Just a few weekends ago, we opened Love Has Come, our annual Christmas concert that celebrates the heart of the season. One of my favorite moments in the show is singing the carol O Little Town of Bethlehem. Since I first sang it in rehearsal, its beautiful lyrics have been echoing in my heart, offering fresh inspiration with every note.
“O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie …
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
These words have stayed with me throughout this Christmas season. Humanity has always longed for a Savior—a Deliverer to rescue us from darkness and sin, to bring salvation and peace. In Jesus, those hopes and fears were answered. He left the splendor of heaven, wrapped Himself in humanity, and came to dwell among us. He is our hope—the One who heals our brokenness and answers the deepest cries of our hearts.
And yet, even now, we wait. We long for Emmanuel to come again, just as He came that night in Bethlehem. We echo the words of another carol: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.”
More than ever, I feel this longing in my soul. I yearn to walk with Jesus as Adam and Eve did in the cool of the day. I ache for His return, for the broken to be made whole, for Heaven to meet earth, and for us to live in the beauty of restored Eden with our Savior.
Even so … Come, Lord Jesus. Come.
“Where meek souls will receive Him still the dear Christ enters in.”
Jesus does not force His way into our lives but gently knocks, waiting for a humble, receptive heart to welcome Him in. As Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
But are we truly humble and open?
Are we willing to receive Jesus not only as our Savior but as Lord over every corner of our hearts?
To be meek doesn’t mean weak—it means having a spirit of humility, a willingness to surrender, and a heart fully dependent on God.
Meekness is the kind of heart Mary displayed when she responded to the angel’s announcement with, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). It’s the posture of the shepherds who left their flocks to worship at the manger.
Jesus still comes to “meek souls”—to those who acknowledge their need for Him, to those who lay aside pride and self-reliance and make room for the King. In the busyness of Christmas, it’s so easy to crowd Him out with our endless to-do lists and distractions. But He longs to enter into our hearts, our homes, and our everyday lives, bringing His peace, His joy, and His hope.
Have I made room for Him? Have you?
When Christ knocks, do we hear Him above the noise of the season?
And when we hear Him, do we open the door wide or leave it only cracked, afraid of the change His presence might bring?
This Christmas, my prayer is that we would be like the meek souls this carol describes—humble, open, and receptive to Jesus. May we, in childlike faith, invite Him into the spaces we’ve been holding back, trusting that His presence will transform our lives in ways far greater than we can imagine.
The dear Christ still enters in. May He find in us a heart ready to receive Him.
“Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.”
What a powerful prayer this is—a prayer for every day, every moment. May it be the cry of our hearts: Jesus, forgive me of my sin. Enter into this broken heart and make it whole. Be born in me today.
This simple yet profound plea reminds us that the miracle of Christmas isn’t just something to remember—it’s something to experience. Christ desires to dwell within us, transforming us from the inside out. May we carry this prayer with us, not just during this season but always.
During our concert, I sang this song with my brothers, Fred and Cameron. Each night, as the familiar words filled the room, I found myself overwhelmed by the beauty of what Jesus has done. In that quiet, humble moment in Bethlehem, He came to us—God with us—not only to dwell among us but to dwell within us. This is the miracle of Christmas: that the Savior of the world longs to make His home in our hearts.
