Every time you hear a bell ring...

A few weeks ago, Hope & I put together a prayer experience for our monthly Mom's gathering at church. We wanted it to be a time to be quiet and contemplative amidst the Advent craziness. I wrote some devotional thoughts and activities for prayer stations based on some common things we see (and take for granted) this time of year. Since I've had a hard time slowing down myself, I don't have a new blog post, so I thought I'd share some of the thoughts from that night. The first is about Christmas bells.


"Ding dong merrily on high,
in heav'n the bells are ringing”


“Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells,
all seem to say throw cares away.”



“I praise the true God, I call the people, I assemble the clergy;
I bewail the dead, I dispense storm clouds, I do honour to feasts.”
Common inscription on medieval church bells

Bells play a big role in Christmas celebrations: many carols mention them, Salvation Army volunteers ring them, Clarence says every time we hear one, and angel gets his wings, and Santa & his reindeer are supposed to have them on the sleigh. But what does any of that really have to do with Jesus?

In church history, bells are traditionally rung when someone dies, and it is said that they ring out on Christmas day to celebrate the birth of our Savior and the impending death of Satan and sin.

Bells have also been used for centuries to announce the beginning of worship services in churches all over the world. Some say this began to call sleeping monks to prayer. At Christmas time, perhaps the bells ring to break the slumber of those long-awaiting the coming of the Messiah.

There is only one real reference to bells in scripture. God told Moses to include bells along the hem of the robe worn by the high priest Aaron: “Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die.” Exodus 28:35

Hebrews 7 tells us that Jesus is now our High Priest, and that His sacrifice made all others unnecessary. How appropriate that we ring bells to celebrate the time when our High Priest stepped out of Heaven to join us on earth and offer the ultimate sacrifice!

Ask God to help you hear reminders of His gift of victory over sin
every time you hear a bell ring.

Photo by Karen Barefoot, from stock.xchng