December 10th

God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

• Lyrics

  God rest you merry, gentlemen,
  let nothing you dismay,
  remember Christ our Savior
  was born on Christmas day,
  to save us all from Satan's pow'r
  when we were gone astray;
  O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
  O tidings of comfort and joy. 

  From God our heav'nly Father,
  a blessed angel came;
  and unto certain shepherds
  brought tidings of the same:
  how that in Bethlehem was born
  the son of God by name,
  O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
  O tidings of comfort and joy.

   "Fear not, then," said the angel,
  "let nothing you affright;
  this day is born a Savior
  of a pure virgin bright,
  to free all those who trust in him
  from Satan's pow'r and might."
  O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
  O tidings of comfort and joy.

  The shepherds at those tidings
  rejoiced much in mind,
  and left their flocks a-feeding,
  in tempest, storm, and wind,
  and went to Bethlehem straightway,
  the Son of God to find.
  O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
  O tidings of comfort and joy.

Scripture

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”

— 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (CSB)

Other Scripture reading:

John 19:10-11, Romans 8:35-37

Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to you to know that even in suffering, God is sovereign?

2. Think about the last time you felt like Job. That might even be today. What opportunities is your suffering presenting?