On an ordinary night in Bethlehem, the extraordinary happened – Jesus invaded the realm of darkness and stormed Satan’s kingdom. As you celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, allow him to invade your heart and storm your life. Only through Jesus will all be calm and bright!
Hi, I’m Joni and you’re listening to Joni and Friends.
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
God is an intruder. God encroaches; he presumes; he invades; he infringes. He crashes the party; he tears aside curtains, throws open locked doors, hits the light switch in dark rooms. God pulls the fire alarm in stuffy, sacrosanct hallways. God intruded primeval chaos and brought forth light, and beauty, and order, and life.
God presumed upon the life of a middle-aged man in the town of Ur and brought forth a nation. God trespassed on the cozy security of the Canaanites, smug behind their high walls of stones. God advanced upon the chambers of kings with feisty, finger-wagging prophets who called down judgment.
God was the unwelcomed guest at Belshazzar’s feast, writing doom on the wall while the revelers gagged on their wine. God talked out of turn in Judah and Galilee with words like “no man ever spoke before.” God crashed the temple courtyards, overturned tables, kicked commerce out the door with a strong arm and a whip of cords. God overstepped the realm of death itself, stealing its banner and crushing its lord. And in the Most Holy Place of the temple, God audaciously tore the veil from top to bottom.
But friend, most of all, God on one silent night intruded the womb of a virgin. He stormed Satan’s kingdom on Christmas evening in Bethlehem.
And this is why all is calm, all is bright in our hearts. Because of that night in Bethlehem, the Spirit of the Lord stormed your life and my life. He intruded into our hearts; he has invaded our hearts, and he has taken up residence in our very bodies. He boldly intrudes into our sin, calling it what it is, challenging you and me to leave it behind. And, friend, I am so glad – I am so glad – Jesus came to earth that night, that silent night. Jesus has invaded the realm of darkness, and this means you and I – you and I tonight – can sleep in heavenly peace; sleep in heavenly peace.
© Joni and Friends