There's a Rose in Bethlehem...

...With a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin
On this silent, holy night

So begins the title track of Selah's Christmas album, Rose of Bethlehem. I've enjoyed this group's beautiful, harmonic singing, especially since they add tunes and rhythms unfamiliar to American ears. Their songs are also theologically sound, and remind me of the Great God I love and serve.

This song continues

There's a fragrance much like hope
That it sends upon the wind
Reaching out to every soul
From a lowly manger's crib

Chorus:
Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me

There's a Rose in Bethlehem
Colored red like mercy's blood
Tis the flower of our faith
Tis the blossom of God's love

Though its bloom is fresh with youth
Surely what will be He knows
For a tear of morning dew
Is rolling down the Rose

Chorus

There's a Rose in Bethlehem
With a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin
On this silent, holy night

Two thousand years ago, Christ came softly and graciously into this tired and sin-cursed world. His pure and perfect beauty, the beauty of God made flesh, shines out through the centuries to all the world. The glory He gave to His Father in His faithful life and in the thorns He wore at His death, the hope and salvation He won for His children must ever be at the forefront of our minds.

Remember, although He was born to live among us - "Immanuel," God dwelling with us - He was also born to die for us. And so during this wonderous season, let us lift our minds and voices and spirits to praise and glorify the God who came to give us abundant life...

... His life.

"Glory to God in the Highest,
And on Earth,
Peace,
Goodwill to men..."

(Linked at the Carnival of Christmas and at the Christmas Alliance.)

Technorati Tags: Christmas, Christ, Carnival of Christmas, Christmas Alliance, Selah, Rose of Bethlehem, music