Good Morning Lord, I sense You near as I sit in bed enjoying Your presence and a cup of Joe and the peace You bring to this new day and me. The sun’s rays peak through the blinds behind me, and all is calm. I rather like the silence and linger.

“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” comes to mind. Reaching for my cell, typing in the Search Bar, I click the first option—beautiful, simple, a guitar, and a lone voice.*

Listening again, eyes closed, heart open—I soak in the deep truths Your servant, my brother In Christ, Charles Wesley penned so many years ago. Thank You, my Lord, for Your amazing grace upon his life and for using him in the Kingdom of God. His service to You was not in vain.

My brothers and sisters In Christ, by God’s amazing grace our service to our Lord is not in vain. Praise Your Holy Name, Jesus!

I’ve not noticed the timing of this hymn before (not that I know much about music’s timing). This rendition reminds me of a waltz. Then…

I have a vision of a Grand Ballroom. From the pinnacle hangs a glorious chandelier sending forth brilliant light to every nook, cranny, and corner. There are no shadows. The Ballroom is empty except for two. I see them but cannot make out their faces. The Bridegroom’s sacrificial love swept His Bride off her feet. And she loves the Bridegroom to death for He loved her first and at her worst. The Bride Price that the Bridegroom paid is incalculable. The Bride is clothed in a glowing gown whiter-than-snow white. The Bridegroom has a gentle, yet sure hold on His Bride, and she surrenders in His arms as He leads His Beloved across the Ballroom gloriously, gracefully moving as one—waltzing to, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”.

Overwhelmed, I cannot contain my tears. Surely, You have placed eternity in the heart of every living soul.

Should Your Bride not long for You as the sea longs for the shore? All over the world, all the oceans continuously return to the shore again and again and again, wave after wave after wave. Should Your Bride not long for You as the sea longs for the shore? By Your gracious grace make it so is my prayer, and start with me! Even as, “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!'” (Revelation 17:22a).

All over Christiandom this Christmas Season, thousands upon thousands, perhaps millions of Believers sang Wesley’s words and worshipped Immanuel—who in the fullness of time became one of us once, to ransom His Bride for all eternity.

“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” words by Charles Wesley
Written in the Year of our Lord, 1744

Come thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.”

“Look, I [Jesus] am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:12, 17).🌻

*Come Thou Long Expected Jesus | Christmas Lyric Video | Reawaken Hymns