Day 13 – of the Fathers Love Begotten
I began taking piano lessons at age 5. I remember how much I hated sitting there practicing for 15 and then 30 minutes as I progressed. Sometimes I would go somewhere else mentally to escape the task. (I am now very grateful for those many hours and years of practicing-playing the piano has brought me great joy.) I have one memory etched in my mind that I will never forget.
I was sitting at the piano at around age 7or 8 and began thinking about God. My Sunday School teacher had taught me that before there was God, there was nothing. He existed before anything else was. I tried to imagine what nothing was like. And as my mind imagined nothing, I grew more and more frustrated. In the end, I was simply amazed at how great God must be since everything I could imagine in my world always came from something else.
This carol shares that God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the Source of everything , of the things that are, have been, or ever will be.
As we listen to today’s carol, let’s realize that God, Maker and Sustainer of all things, certainly has the power and ability to take care of all that we will face today and every day. He tells us that we are engraved on the palms of His hands. We can lean into His comforting strength and trust Him to handle anything life throws at us. We can rest in Him.
Of the Father’s love begotten
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the Source, the Ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore!
O that birth forever blessed,
when the Virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bore the Savior of our race;
and the babe, the world’s Redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore!
This is he whom heav’n-taught singers
sang of old with one accord,
whom the Scriptures of the prophets
promised in their faithful word;
now he shines, the long expected;
let creation praise its Lord,
evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heav’n, adore him;
angel hosts, his praises sing:
all dominions, bow before him
and extol our God and King;
let no tongue on earth be silent,
ev’ry voice in concert ring,
evermore and evermore!
Christ, to thee, with God the Father,
and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
and unwearied praises be,
honor, glory, and dominion
and eternal victory,
evermore and evermore!
“I am the Alpha and the Omega [the Beginning and the End],” says the Lord God, “Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all].” ( Revelation 1:8 Amplified)
“And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I will give [water] from the fountain of the water of life without cost.” ( Revelation 21:6 Amplified)
“Indeed, I have inscribed [a picture of] you on the palms of My hands…” ( Isaiah 49:16 Amplified)
