17 December 2021 - Christmas and Joy
Luke 2:8-10 (NKJV) “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”
"Joy to the World" is a famous Christmas hymn with lyrics by Isaac Watts. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room, and heav'n and nature sing, and heav'n and nature sing, and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.
The hymn is based on Psalm 98 which is a call to sing to the Lord a new song Psalm 98:1 (NIV) “ Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.”
He “comes to judge the earth” and He will do so with righteousness and equity. Psalm 98:9 (NIV) let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.”
His coming brings us salvation, a reason to burst forth in joyful song. Psalm 98:2 (NIV) “The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.”
Joy comes through God’s saving work. When we experience God’s salvation, joy flows in abundance.
Luke 1:47 (NIV) “and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,”
The source of our joy is not in what we have. It lies in “Emmanuel,” the name which means “God is with us”
Matthew 1:23 (NIV) “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
We also experience joy in difficult times. Joy is that it is possible to have, even in the midst of suffering and loss.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV) “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.
As Christmas approaches, let us rejoice in the Lord—in his presence, in his gift of salvation, in our praise of him, in his ways, in our hope of heaven, and even in his cross. God is the source of our joy, for he is the God of joy.