Christmas is Near at Hand
Embrace Grace: A Christmas Journey of Redemption
Lyrics
Christmas is now drawing near at hand
Indicates the approaching Christmas time.
Come serve the Lord and be at His command
Encourages people to serve the Lord and follow His commands.
And God a portion for you will provide
Expresses the belief that God will provide for those who serve Him.
And give a blessing to your soul besides
Anticipates a blessing for the soul in addition to material provision.
Down in the garden where flowers grow in ranks
Refers to a garden as a metaphor for a place of spiritual growth.
Down on your bended knees and give the Lord thanks
Advises kneeling in prayer to express gratitude to the Lord.
Down on your knees and pray both night and day
Encourages persistent prayer both day and night.
Leave off your sins and live upright I pray
Urges repentance from sins and a commitment to upright living.
So proud and lofty is some sort of sin
Highlights the pride and arrogance associated with certain sins.
Which many take delight and pleasure in
Identifies a sinful pleasure that many indulge in.
Whose conversation God doth much dislike
Suggests that God disapproves of conversations centered on sinful pleasures.
And yet He shakes His sword before He strike
Portrays God's warning before meting out punishment for sinful behavior.
So proud and lofty do some people go
Reiterates the warning against prideful and lofty behavior.
Dressing themselves like players in a show
Criticizes those who indulge in extravagant and superficial displays.
They patch and paint and dress with idle stuff
Denounces the unnecessary adornment as if God's creation is insufficient.
As if God had not made 'em fine enough
Condemns the act of enhancing one's appearance beyond what is natural.
Even little children learn to curse and swear
Expresses concern about even children adopting negative behaviors like cursing.
And can't rehearse one word of godly prayer
Points out the irony of children unable to recite a godly prayer.
Oh teach them better, oh teach them to rely
Advocates for teaching children better values and reliance on Christ.
On Christ the sinner's friend who reigns on high
Encourages placing trust in Christ, depicted as the friend of sinners, who reigns in heaven.
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