Tis the season to be merry and we sing Joy to The World, but have you ever noticed that at this time of year many people lose their joy rather than gain it? They run around trying to satisfy a perceived way of celebrating the holidays. They frantically make purchases that they hope will be appreciated, but often fear will be trivialized. They prepare an amazing meal for loved ones that only some will attend due to other obligations. They worry they will be alone and forgotten right in the middle of all the busy activity. They are often burdened by the over
is the Messiah, the Lord.
So the presence of Jesus is the real reason for joy. No matter how hard our culture tries to remove Christ from Christmas we should remind ourselves that He is the joy giver. Jesus was God with human flesh on who brought the joy of forgiveness, healing and restoration to our very souls. Remember that joy is not the same as happiness because joy is available through God in the middle of any and every circumstance in life. Listen to a prayer that was uttered by the Apostle Paul to a people who lived in an oppressive environment. Romans 15:13 (NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul was a lover of God who lived in very difficult life circumstances. He sought for God’s joy even when it seemed very bleak. He found God’s joy and then shared it with every other person he encountered. May you have the zeal to find God’s joy and then pass it on to the world.
