‘Tis the season to be jolly!  Over the next few weeks, WIFW will take on Christmas music, focusing on songs that help us keep Jesus Christ, the reason for Christmas, at the center.  Today’s song is “Welcome to Our World.” There are so many great Christmas songs, but in my opinion, this is one of the best.

Written by Chris Rice in 1995 and published through Clumsy Fly Music, this song captures beautifully the wonder of God taking on flesh and dwelling among us, even beginning as a baby.  I love how Rice in his understated elegance pulls in the angst of a world in need of a Savior—”tears are falling, hearts are breaking;” “bring Your peace into our violence;” “so wrap our injured flesh around you.”  For those who had the prophecies of God, they were anxiously anticipating the Savior, the Messiah, the Christ, and many rejoiced when He finally arrived.

This Christmas season, I pray that you’ll marvel at the glory of the incarnation as you remember the Babe in the manger, but be sure to let your thoughts move from the manger to the crucifix, keeping in mind that that Babe’s fragile finger was sent to heal us and that His tender brow was prepared for thorn.  Tiny heart whose blood will save us unto us is born.

Let’s worship along with Michael W Smith’s version from his 1998 album Christmastime.

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You’ve been promised, we’ve been waiting

Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don’t mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger

Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home

Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven’s silence

Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us

Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy

Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God

Welcome to our world