We were never told to keep the Saviour’s birthday,

but the seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord.

When He rose from death it then became the first day,

so often did they worship round His Word.

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When the shepherds watched their flocks it wasn’t snowing,

it was starry and they lay down in the field.

It was decreed people should be up and going

to the city of their birth, and taxes yield.

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Mary magnified the Lord as her own saviour;

“God with us” would be His name – “Immanuel”.

Humbly would the Lord of Glory grace the manger,

born to save the lost and rule His “Israel”.

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By his command King Herod slew the innocent

— never was Christ’s Kingdom meant to be on earth.

When “peace on earth, good will to men” was freely sent,

the angels’ words spoke to men of inward birth.

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Now the world has lost the sight of the main issues,

the traditions of the season take their place.

Still they know not what they’re doing, as is always

till the Lord renews their minds by sovereign grace.

RJR (mid- 1970s)