As we enter into this final week before Christmas, are you experiencing any joy in your heart and soul? Life can certainly feel overwhelming at times as we are forced to adjust to changing circumstances on a continual basis in every dimension of our lives.
If you were to ask anyone on the street “what is the most joyful time of the year?” Without any question, it would be practically unanimous that Christmas is the most joyful time of the year. One of the other carols you will hear everywhere you go is one titled, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
It’s Christmas Sunday this weekend, and we will be speaking on the carol, Joy To The World. The words of this song are so well known to us:
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 singJoy to the world! 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 joyHe rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
And glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
Is there any joy in your world? What should our experience of joy be based upon? Many of us work so hard on getting the externals all ready for Christmas. We are busy decorating our home inside and out, baking our favourite goodies, and wrapping gifts. All in hopes of experiencing some Christmas joy. Scriptures say the angel announced to the shepherds, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10,11).
The key to experiencing true joy in your heart and life is found in the first line of the first stanza, Joy to the Word! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King! Let’s pray that in this final week leading up to Christmas that more and more people will experience the true joy of this season, Jesus!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor