Joy to the World

Joy to the World! Yesterday was a celebration of the day God sent his son to earth for us. The God of the universe came to earth as a lowly little baby, born in a feeding trough, surrounded by animals. Our King was born in the most humble of circumstances. From the very beginning, Jesus's life wasn't easy. He would go on to be ridiculed, beaten, tortured, and eventually murdered. God knew all this beforehand, yet he still sent Jesus to us so that He could save us from our sins! How good God is to bless us so much when we are so undeserving.

I saw a reminder this year that really made me think: it was a little slogan that said "It's not YOUR birthday." How true. we make Christmas all about us- the presents we'll get, the trips we'll take, the time off work and time with family we'll get to enjoy. But it's not our birthday- it's Jesus's birthday. Christmas is a celebration of Him. We tell each other to "remember the reason for the season," but do we truly take that to heart? Do we honestly take time to realize all that God did for us on the night he sent his son to earth?

The notes in my NIV study Bible say that many Jews were looking for a political leader to deliver them from Roman rule, while others were hoping for a savior to deliver them from sickness and physical hardship. Instead, God gave them something even better- He sent a Savior who would deliver them from sin and death!

One last thought: It struck me that we use "Santa" as a way to get children to behave. Parents say things like, "You better be good, or Santa won't bring you any presents this year." The message is that we have to be good to get gifts from Santa. Aren't you glad God doesn't work that way? He didn't wait for us to do anything good, anything worthy before he sent his gift. In fact, He sent his son for us "while we were still sinners". Christmas is certainly a season to be joyful, not for what we get, but for what God already gave.

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

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, wonders, of His love!