Because of Jesus
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
—G. F. Handel, Isaac Watts
This classic Christmas carol majestically heralds the birth of the Savior. To me it epitomizes the spirit of Christmas.
I love Christmas. I always have. I love both the secular and the sacred traditions. I can remember riding home from my grandparents’ house on many Christmas Eves, listening to carols, searching the night sky for Santa, and thinking of the manger. Christmas seemed holy and magical.
Christmas brings joy. Christmas brings happiness. Two declarative statements, but only one is lasting. Christmas can bring happiness with all the family, friends, food, and fun. However, happiness can be fleeting and sometimes even non-existent.
But joy? Joy is different. Joy remains. Because of that tiny baby in a manger, Christmas joy stays all year.
Happiness is “the quality or state of being happy.” Well, what does happy mean? The definition of happy is “delighted, pleased, or glad as over a particular thing.”
Joy is defined as “the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation.” A bit more than being happy.
Real joy is more than an emotion. Lysa TerKeurst uses the wise expression, “Emotions should be indicators, not dictators.” Our emotions are responses; they are not supposed to dictate our lives. I think we all have let our emotions run away with us a time or two and can attest that it was not good.
The apostle Paul often wrote about being content and experiencing joy in any circumstance. Paul had more than his fair share of bad circumstances. How could he write about being content in any circumstance when he was sick, imprisoned, shipwrecked?
One reason.
Jesus.
Paul met Jesus and was radically changed. We, too, can meet Jesus today by studying God’s Word, believing, praying, and worshiping, and we can be radically changed as well. What a wonderful gift!
[Tweet “Jesus came to make the world whole and mend our brokenness.”]
John 3:16 may be a verse you have heard a thousand times, or maybe you have never heard it all. Regardless, take the time to really read it and let its meaning sink in:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (NIV).
God so loved the world, he gave us Jesus. Jesus, who is constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the beginning and the end. Throughout the highs and the lows of this world, he remains steady.
And it all began over two thousand years ago.
Merry Christmas! I pray that you will know and enjoy the gift of Jesus in your life every day, all year long.
“The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is the Messiah, the Lord.’” Luke 2:10–11 (NIV)
Dana Herndon is a writer and blogger as well as an elementary and middle school teacher. She and her husband live in Georgia with their three children. In addition to teaching and writing, Dana loves to read, watch Food Network and HGTV, follow politics, and paddleboard. She blogs at danaherndon.com.
