Got Joy?
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What is real Christmas joy?
Why is "joy" used at Christmas? |
Every Christmas season there are various expressions that routinely surface in advertisements, decorations and greeting cards. One is the word “joy”. But what is it about this season that we are more joyful about compared to other seasons? Is it the weather? Less daylight? Family get-togethers? Holiday spreads? Shopping crowds? Getting gifts? Giving gifts?
The dictionary defines joy as a feeling of great happiness. Certainly many of those things do bring us some happiness, but is it great happiness? We experience them at other times of the year too, but do they bring us pure joy then as well? Could it be that we use the word devoid of its original meaning? A colloquial shell word dusted off and displayed during the holiday season, only to be unplugged and tossed back into the attic afterward? Could there be deeper understanding of true Christmas joy?
Perhaps a little Christmas music will help… “Joy to the world…” Stop. This isn’t localized joy over a white Christmas or family feast; this is global-sized joy. Continue please. “…the Lord is come. Let Earth receive her King…” Stop. Ahh, now we’re getting somewhere. It’s that the Lord has come to Earth that is the key to this momentous joy.
Now enter the Nativity scenes that also accompany the season –usually quaint structures housing at least a man, woman and child. Looking to the Bible to shed more light on the subject, we see it’s no ordinary child. In fact, at his birth, a whole company of angels made a birth announcement proclaiming “I bring you good news of GREAT JOY that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2.10-11) Thus, we have the Christ of Christmas.
The meaning of the joy used in this account means to be over-joyed, filled with joy –deep and lasting joy at the core of your being that radiates through your whole life. Many things bring happiness that eventually fades; festivities end and life carries on. But Jesus Christ brings joy that lights up your entire life. Not eliminating all your troubles, but overriding them and carrying you through. He came to give you eternal life and meaning to existence. He came to clear your way to heaven, forgiving your sins that keep you out. He came to heal brokenness and offer peace with others and with God. He came full of grace and truth, exemplifying love and justice. He came to be hope and freedom. And if you’re trusting Him for this, He will make your joy complete.
When the season winds down and decorations are packed away, will “joy” be packed away with them? When problems of life arise, and when things wear out and people let you down, will you still have joy?
The dictionary defines joy as a feeling of great happiness. Certainly many of those things do bring us some happiness, but is it great happiness? We experience them at other times of the year too, but do they bring us pure joy then as well? Could it be that we use the word devoid of its original meaning? A colloquial shell word dusted off and displayed during the holiday season, only to be unplugged and tossed back into the attic afterward? Could there be deeper understanding of true Christmas joy?
Perhaps a little Christmas music will help… “Joy to the world…” Stop. This isn’t localized joy over a white Christmas or family feast; this is global-sized joy. Continue please. “…the Lord is come. Let Earth receive her King…” Stop. Ahh, now we’re getting somewhere. It’s that the Lord has come to Earth that is the key to this momentous joy.
Now enter the Nativity scenes that also accompany the season –usually quaint structures housing at least a man, woman and child. Looking to the Bible to shed more light on the subject, we see it’s no ordinary child. In fact, at his birth, a whole company of angels made a birth announcement proclaiming “I bring you good news of GREAT JOY that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2.10-11) Thus, we have the Christ of Christmas.
The meaning of the joy used in this account means to be over-joyed, filled with joy –deep and lasting joy at the core of your being that radiates through your whole life. Many things bring happiness that eventually fades; festivities end and life carries on. But Jesus Christ brings joy that lights up your entire life. Not eliminating all your troubles, but overriding them and carrying you through. He came to give you eternal life and meaning to existence. He came to clear your way to heaven, forgiving your sins that keep you out. He came to heal brokenness and offer peace with others and with God. He came full of grace and truth, exemplifying love and justice. He came to be hope and freedom. And if you’re trusting Him for this, He will make your joy complete.
When the season winds down and decorations are packed away, will “joy” be packed away with them? When problems of life arise, and when things wear out and people let you down, will you still have joy?
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” – Lk 2.13-14
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Rom 15.13
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – Jesus in Jn 10.10b
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. – 1 Pt 5.6-7
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – Jesus in Jn 3.16
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” – Rom 10.9-11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. – Ps 16.11
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. – Ps 103.1-5
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” – Lk 2.13-14
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Rom 15.13
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – Jesus in Jn 10.10b
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. – 1 Pt 5.6-7
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – Jesus in Jn 3.16
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” – Rom 10.9-11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. – Ps 16.11
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. – Ps 103.1-5