Today we’re featuring the next post in our Advent series based on the seven themes from Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth’s Advent devotional Born a Child and Yet a King: The Gospel in the Carols. “Declaration” is the theme of today’s post by Erin Davis. 

For from him and through him 
and to him are all things. 
To him be glory forever. Amen. 
—Romans 11:36

Imagine it’s evening on Christmas day. Your favorite people have come and gone. All the buying and wrapping and opening is over for the year. For now, the lights still twinkle on the tree, but you know you’ll take them down before long. Soon enough, the warm fuzzies of Christmas will be gone. 

Did you miss Him? The Perfect One whom all of this is about? Did you get caught up in the obligations of Christmas and miss the Christ of Christmas? Are you worried you might?

Jesus is the reason for the season. Though it certainly is a happy holiday, more importantly it’s Christmas. An event that changed all of our forevers, forever. And on top of the other pressures we experience at this time of year, those of us who recognize the tiny baby wrapped in swaddling clothes as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords feel an extra pressure to keep Jesus where He belongs—in the center of it all. 

I bring you glad tidings of great joy. Are you ready? You can’t miss Jesus this Christmas. 

Consider the apostle Paul’s words from Romans 11:36, 

For from him and through him 
and to him are all things. 
To him be glory forever. Amen.

God’s Word just handed you the key that unlocks a peaceful, wonder-filled Christmas. It’s the same key that unlocks a peaceful, wonder-filled life. It’s all about Jesus.

The Whole Earth Sings Christmas Carols

Consider John 1:3–5 (ESV). This is a Christmas passage if ever I heard one.

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus is the creator of everything we see, taste, touch, smell, and hear. All things were made through Jesus, and without Jesus, nothing at all would be made. 

Ponder this:

  • Jesus made the womb where He was formed as a human baby.
  • Jesus made the wood that was shaped into a manger for His first crib. 
  • Jesus made the vocal cords of the innkeeper who would say, “No room.”
  • He made the heart of Herod who would seek to murder Him.
  • He made the stars the wise men followed to worship Him.
  • He made the sheep who bleated under the watchful eye of shepherds and angels. 

The message of Romans 11:36 (and the rest of Scripture) is that all things were made through and for Jesus. That means it’s not just the baby in the manger that points to Jesus. Everything in this world is His. 

I’ll say it again: You can’t miss Jesus. The whole earth is a giant billboard pointing to Him. Every creature, every tree, every star . . . each one perpetually sings Christmas carols: “Joy to the World! The Lord is come!”

Every bulb on every strand of twinkly lights preaches this sermon:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV)

The star atop every tree declares:

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Revelation 22:16 ESV)

And:

The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light;
but the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun shall no more go down,
nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning shall be ended.
Your people shall all be righteous;
they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified.
The least one shall become a clan,
and the smallest one a mighty nation;
I am the LORD;
in its time I will hasten it. (Isaiah 60:19–22 ESV)

Just like the star that led the wise men to the Christchild, Jesus is the star who leads us to Himself.

Even your Christmas cookies are preaching about Jesus. Consider the description of manna found in Exodus 16. 

It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. (v. 31)

The first graham crackers! The manna was real, but it’s also a picture of the fact that God gives good gifts to His children and that He gave us the greatest gift, salvation, through His Son, Jesus. 

This isn’t about over-spiritualizing everything. It’s about seeing everything as it really is. It’s all about Jesus.

You Can’t Take Christ Out of Christmas

We tend to separate Christmas into categories of secular and Christian, and it’s certainly possible to get too wrapped up in the stuff of Christmas. But no matter how hard anyone tries, they can’t take Christ out of Christmas. It’s all from Him. It’s all through Him. It’s all to Him.

In her Advent devotional Born a Child and Yet a King, Nancy DeMoss Wolgmuth reframes the beloved Christmas hymn “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” as an invitation to join the choir of Christ’s creation.

“Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies.

As you hear and sing this carol then, hear it not only through the ears of stunned, slack-jawed shepherds. Hear it as a call to be part of this swelling chorus, to add your voice to that of the angels in rejoicing at the reality of Christ’s presence among us, taking every opportunity to 

with th’ angelic host proclaim, 
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”1

Forever, Amen. 

There are six words at the end of Romans 11:36 that I don’t want you to miss:

To Him be the glory forever. 

The angels are still singing the song they sang that first Christmas morning. It’s the song they will sing forever. 

Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors! (Luke 2:14)

Christ will be glorified this Christmas. Your choice, then, is to join this declaration: The King has come. He is coming again! 

Don’t let your fear of missing Jesus steal your peace this year. See Him in the star atop your tree . . . in the lights that twinkle as you drive through your neighborhood . . . in the cookies delivered by a friend. 

It’s all for Him. It’s all through Him. It’s all meant to point to Him. How will you join the declaration this season? 

Need a soundtrack for your Advent quiet time? Nancy’s piano album Come Adore contains beautiful instrumental renditions of all of the carols highlighted in the devotional.Stream it online for free or purchase a copy of your own in the Revive Our Hearts store!

1 Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Born a Child and yet a King: The Gospel in the Carols: A 31-Day Advent Devotional (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2023), 104.