Christmas Joy
As the Christmas season slowly advances onto the calendar of our busy lives, I have been reminded of the carol, “Joy to the World.” It begins with the words, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room and heaven and nature sing…”. This simple song calls us to focus on the coming of our Lord and King, Jesus the Christ into the world [Galatians 4:4]. We are encouraged to prepare for Him a place in our lives for He desires to reside in our hearts [Ephesians 3:16-17]. We need to join all of creation in this time of worship which is offered to the Son of God [Psalm 19:1-2]. God’s Son was born in a manger [Luke 2:7], born to walk this earth as a man [John 1:14], born to live sinless above all temptations [Hebrews 4:15], born to die in man’s place, our place, my place, your place [1 Thessalonians 5:9-10]. He was born to be buried, born to rise again [1 Corinthians 15:4], born to ascend back [Acts 1:9] to the right hand of God Almighty [Hebrews 1:3]. This little baby born so many years ago in a small insignificant town [Matthew 2:1] to an unknown couple [Matthew 1:18] was born to become our sin [2 Corinthians 5:21], take our punishment [Romans 5:9], and offer us forgiveness from God Almighty [Ephesians 1:7]. What God asks us to do is to believe Him [1 John 3:23], obey Him [1 John 5:3], and stop our sinning [John 8:11]. Oh, what joy has come into the world [John 12:46]. Joy that brings us peace on earth and good will toward men [Luke 2:14]. Joy not just for the Jews but for all mankind [Acts 26:23]. Joy for every season and all the ages [Ephesians 3:20-21].
So where is this wonderful joy of Christmas? It is still there hidden beneath the church services, the commercialism, and the social expectations of this wonderful season. The joy of Christmas can be recaptured if the object of our focus is returned to that small insignificant town and that unknown couple and Jesus the author and finisher of our faith [Hebrews 12:1-2]. The joy of Christmas radiates from within a person as it is generated by His Spirit [John 7:38]. It cannot be lost nor stolen, but we can give it away in all the hustle and bustle of the holiday [1 Thessalonians 5:4-6].
The joy of the Lord [Nehemiah 8:10] has been shared with men and is our strength throughout our life if we will stay focused on Jesus. Worship Him [Psalm 2:11] and have a joyous Christmas.
Joy is one of the external evidences of the internal control of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 [NAS]
Bro. Hugh Folds
Interim Pastor SPBC
Matthew 6:33
