Become New with John Ortberg 18. Your Soul Needs to Feel Its Worth
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Dec 24, 2025 Discover the uplifting message behind the carol O Holy Night as it articulates the soul's deep yearning to understand its worth. Dive into the Hebrew concept of 'nefesh' and explore the distinction between worth bestowed and earned through performance. Learn about the song's origins, its powerful abolitionist verses, and how it became a beloved classic in America. Understand how Jesus transforms our relationships, inviting us to embrace a new closeness with God and recognize the inherent value in ourselves and others.
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Soul's Need For Worth
- The soul is a deep, needy part of us that longs to know its worth.
- John Ortberg says the coming of Jesus lets the soul see its worth apart from achievements.
Worth Is Bestowed, Not Earned
- Worth is bestowed, not earned by function or ability.
- Ortberg explains Nicholas Wolterstorff's idea that God's love gives humans intrinsic value.
Unexpected Origins Of 'O Holy Night'
- The carol's lyricist, Placide Capot, was a wine commissioner asked by a priest to write a poem.
- He teamed with composer Adolphe Adam to turn it into the song we know as O Holy Night.
