Have you started to listen to Christmas music yet? My family began in earnest as we decorated the house for Christmas last Friday.
One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Joy to the World.”
“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.”
I will never forget the Christmas after I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was still a teenager. It suddenly felt like the whole world was celebrating the joy of Jesus with me. Every store I shopped in became a worship service and every coffee shop a place to meditate on the wonder of the Incarnation. The Mall itself transformed into good news for all for at least two months. Before that year, I knew the songs, I felt the Christmas cheer but I wasn’t aware of the real power behind it. The awe behind it.
I remember feeling like my eyes had been opened to the divine conspiracy of love for all whether they knew it or not. It was a celebration with the entire world of God’s love and hope through Jesus.
Tradition is wonderful but personal revelation is life transforming.
After my life changing encounter with the gospel of Jesus and surrendering my life to Him, the words the angel spoke to the shepherds keeping watch over their sheep at night became more than words of a story, they were simply truth:
“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 2:9 -10 (TPT)
One Response
“…the words the angel spoke to the shepherds … were simply truth”
This is what Christmas feels like for me at this stage of my life. Whether I feel cheer or not, it is simply truth and hope that unto us a Child is born. 🙌🏿