Lyrics
In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter long ago.
Our God, heav'n cannot hold Him nor earth sustain,
Heav'n and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
For the Lord, God Almighty—Jesus Christ.
Gloria, Gloria! Now my eyes have seen;
Soli Deo Gloria! He salvation brings.
As the Lord has promised, I may go in peace.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man I would do my part,
Yet what can I give Him? Give my heart.
Gloria, Gloria! Now my eyes have seen;
Soli Deo Gloria! He salvation brings.
As the Lord has promised, I may go in peace.
Devotional Thoughts
The beloved Christmas carol In the Bleak Midwinter beautifully depicts the birth of the Lord Jesus. Initially creating a dreary and desolate image of the sin-filled world into which Jesus appeared, it quickly shifts our attention to the power and supremacy of God, and the awe-inspiring humility surrounding His incarnation in Jesus Christ. Perhaps the most memorable and impactful portion of the song is the question posed in the final verse—"what can I give Him?" When we consider Jesus Christ and all that He has done for the sake of our salvation, what is an appropriate response? What gift can we possibly give Him that would express the fullness of our love and gratitude toward Him? The answer is simple—our heart. More than silver, gold, or anything money can buy, this is what Jesus desires most.
Have you given your heart to Jesus?
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