I thought about not decorating for Christmas this year. It just didn’t seem like the holidays. I wasn’t
sure I wanted to drag the boxes down out of the attic and go through all the
work and mess required, only to have to pack it all back up in a few short
weeks.
But I love the holidays – the memories evoked by the decorations, the twinkling lights, the music…And maybe this year decorating is more important than usual.
The joy we are accustomed to seeing at this season of the year seems to be missing, or at least subdued. The world has changed in ways we could not have foreseen or imagined. People are feeling isolated, cut-off from family and friends, fearful, disappointed, depressed, anxious about the future, grieving what was or what could have been, etc., etc., etc.
But joyful? Not so much.
Centuries ago brilliance burst through the darkness and an angel delivered
a message of hope to shepherds out on a Bethlehem hillside.
“Fear
not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be for all people…” Luke 2:10
ALL people –
All people then… and NOW.
There is good news of joy –
Not just joy,
But GREAT joy!
We have a Savior.
His name is Jesus.
And at Christmas we celebrate His coming to earth to live among His creation. The Jesus who came to earth on that first Christmas day, is the same Jesus who said,
“These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11
“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:24.
When praying to His Father He said, “… and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.” John 17:13
So, my dear Friends, do not relinquish your JOY.
If Jesus is your Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit of God lives in you. And a life filled with the Spirit can overflow with the fruit of the Spirit which is “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” Galatians 5:22, 23.
Despite persecution, illness, trials of many kinds, rejection, misunderstanding, multiple assassination attempts and imprisonment Paul wrote, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear to myself so that I might finish my course with joy…” Acts 20:24
Paul’s joy did not depend on what happened, but came from His God!
May we say along with the prophet Habakkuk, “I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18
Perhaps it is a decision… I will rejoice.
If your joy is waning, ask (John 16:24).
If you have breath, sing (Psalm 104:33).
If you are afraid, trust (Read Psalm 56:3-11).
And this Christmas season, let your joy encourage others.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Blessings,
Ruth
Joy to the World, by Isaac Watts, 1719
“Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the world! the Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow, Far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love.”
