The gifts are wrapped and tagged. Cookies are baked and decorated. I’ve watched Christmas made-for-TV movies until even I’ve had enough … and that’s saying something!
Yes, I’m one of those people. You know, the ones who play Christmas carols in July and put up their tree before Thanksgiving. There’s just something contagious about the joy of Christmas.
Apart from the Christmas season, we don’t use the word joy very much. We speak more often of happiness. But happiness is changeable. It depends on our circumstances.
True joy wells up from a source greater than us and our circumstances. And one of the greatest, purest joys comes from the reason for Christmas.
Now in the glow of the Christmas tree lights, I’m thinking again of the reason for the season. “Joy to the World” is streaming while I type. As I listen to the words written by Isaac Watts, I’m reminded of who the baby in the manger really is.
He is the Lord, the one who created heaven and earth. He is the King. Because He created our world, He has the right to rule over it … and us.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come/ Let earth receive her King;
Let every 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.
He is the Savior, the one who conquered sin and death to live and reign for eternity.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns/ Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains/ Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy/ Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He is the source of blessing. In every corner of the world where sin lurks and sorrow results, His blessings will flow, all because God became man.
No more let sins and sorrows grow/ Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow/ Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found/ Far as, far as the curse is found.
His nature is the essence of truth. Even though we may not always like what He says, it is always true. We don’t deserve the salvation He provides, but by His grace He offers us His righteousness so we can stand before our holy God. And He does it because of His great love for us.
He rules the world with truth and grace/ And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness/ And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love/ And wonders, and wonders of His love.
Jesus is Lord, King and Savior. He is truth and grace, righteousness and love. He is the reason for our joy!
Will you join me in singing for joy this Christmas? {eoa}
Ava Pennington is a writer, speaker and Bible teacher. She writes for nationally circulated magazines and is published in 32 anthologies, including 25 “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books. She also authored Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional, endorsed by Kay Arthur. Learn more at avawrites.com.
This article originally appeared at avawrites.com.
Janet Perez Eckles 
Shawn Akers 
Abby Trivett 
