Joy to the World!
Luke 2:8-12, Philippians 4:4-5
December 3, 2006
You know what I’ve discovered about myself? And I’m not proud to admit it. But the fact of the matter is that I have found myself turning into a bit of a grinch sometimes during the holiday season.
The time of year when there should be the most joy in the world, I find myself, at times, not very happy about the holiday at all.
I think of all the “holiday villains” in Christmas stories.
The Grinch. Mr. Potter from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Ebenezer Scrooge. The Abominable Snowman from “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.”
I don’t want to be like that. But I am sometimes. I’ve got pressures and bills and deadlines and in-laws, just like the rest of you…
Anyone else here struggle like that at times? Surely I can’t be the only one!
We’re trying to travel plans settled, get presents for those we think we should get them for, and scrambling to remember what you gave Uncle Freddie last year so you don’t get him the same thing this year, even though you’re sure he wouldn’t appreciate ANYTHING you’d get him.
Anybody have someone like that on their gift list?
Christmas should be a joyous time. And for most, it is.
But for some, it’s a tough time. Family that’s too far away to make it home for the holiday.
My grandfather will spend his first Christmas without my grandma in almost 70 years this year, because she passed away just over a week ago. I participated in her funeral last Monday.
For others, it’s an issue of not having enough money to give the kind of gifts you’d like to give, if you can give any gift at all.
I know that feeling, as I’ve shared in the past.
So the Christmas holiday can be a time of great happiness and it can also be a time of great sadness. And some of you can attest to the fact that it can both in the same season, right?
Well, this is simply part of the human condition. We live in a fallen world, and it brings with it happiness and pain.
So what can we do about it? Well, I’m not sure I have much of an answer, but I want to share a couple things that I have found helpful to me.
These are two passages of Scripture that I can look at and reflect on during the season that, depending on what’s going on at that time, can bring me out of a painful or stressful time or greatly enhance a time where the joy is really present.
The first is a portion of Luke 2, verses 8-12 –
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Did you notice that sentence – “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
You know what I think is cool about that?
First, the news about the Savior is good news of great joy.
It’s great news because it’s the manifestation of the Father’s love for each and every one of us.
Each and every one of us? Are you sure, PB? Yup. Look again at that sentence:
“…for ALL the people.”
God intends for the Christmas baby and the redemption He brings to be good news that brings GREAT news for all of us.
That means that He intended the Messiah to be good news for ME!
And He intended the Messiah to be good news for YOU.
And because of the Messiah, we can rejoice in His love and care for us here on earth, and anticipate the time when all of this will be nothing but a memory, if even that.
Followers of Jesus have a reason for joy, no matter the present circumstances.
Here’s the second passage, Philippians 4:4-5 –
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
I’m not going to spend a lot of time here, but what I like about this Scripture is that it’s written from prison.
He wasn’t writing this from some sea-side resort like some cheesy post-card saying, “Wish you were here!”
By the way, if you’ve ever received a post-card from a place like Hawaii or someplace tropical like the Caribbean or whatever, and it said, “Wish you were here,” did you really believe that?
Not me! What they’re really thinking is, “Ain’t it great that we can be by ourselves for once?”
Anyway – Paul wasn’t exactly swimming in the best of circumstances. It wasn’t too long after he wrote this letter that he would be transferred to the last Roman dungeon where he would end his life.
And get this – as if prison wasn’t bad enough, there were people outside of the prison who were trying to stir up even more trouble for Paul – talk about kicking a guy when he’s down.
But what’s Paul’s attitude here? Rejoice!
We’ve already talked at length about how the holidays can be hard on some people, but here’s a guy who knows what it’s like to be in hard circumstances and yet find joy.
But the key is this: his joy is never found in the circumstances – his joy is found in Christ.
Because Christ is constant during our ever-changing circumstances, and He’s constant no matter if the circumstances are good or bad.
When we can focus on Christ instead of the circumstances, we can find joy.
Let me make something real clear here:
I’m not saying that you ignore the hassles, hard times, and pain you’re facing during this time of year.
That does no one good, and doesn’t fool anyone, especially God.
But I want to very quickly give you three ways to help bring joy to the season, no matter the circumstances.
Again, these are things that I have found helpful in my own life. My prayer is that you fill find them useful in yours as well:
1. Thank God for the Messiah.
Without the Messiah we have absolutely no hope, for now, and certainly no hope for eternity.
Remember, the coming of Jesus is good news meant to bring us great joy.
2. Rejoice and purpose to enjoy the season, with the help of God.
Do those things that you enjoyed from Christmases past – listen to specific Christmas music, bring back a tradition from your youth, call some old friends or family that you used to be around during the holidays.
But the point here is to be intentional about doing things that help you re-live the joy of Christmas.
Or maybe you need to completely trash what you’ve done in the past and start something brand new.
But that’s only for the brave of heart, so only try it if you’re daring!
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking God to help you enjoy the season. He invented it by sending Jesus. So let Him help you enjoy it.
Third…
3. Look with anticipation to His coming again.
One of the great things about Christmas is that it’s not the end of the story! He’s coming again!
And that’s great news as well! What Jesus came to accomplish on earth through His birth, life, death, and resurrection, will finally come to great fruition someday.
And on that great day, there’ll be no more sorrow for those who have take hold of Him for their salvation.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Anticipate what is yet to come, and it helps us to rejoice in the present.
Folks, I’m going to end this very quickly by telling you that it’s my fervent hope that everyone in here has a truly blessed holiday.
It’s tougher for some of you than others, there’s no denying that.
But I truly hope that Jesus will cause the joy that He came to bring to find its way into your life.
I pray that you will find reason to celebrate and rejoice in Jesus this Christmas.
For those who don’t find themselves in hard times right now, my prayer for you is that the joy will be even greater.
And for all of us, I pray that Jesus will shine in us and through us so others will see that this whole Christmas thingy isn’t just an occasion for presents and glitter. They’ll see that Jesus, the Messiah, really lives in the lives of people who call Him Lord.
Let’s pray.
