Thought for Today: “The Joy of Christmas”
After learning that she would be giving birth to the Messiah, Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist, and through Mary’s song, known as “Magnificat,” she reveals how she prepared herself for this wonderous event.
First it was with Joy.
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47)
Mary response to the news of this first Christmas is joy. Her focus was on God and what He was about to do, not upon her own selfish wants and desires, and this is what brings joy.
What the world is looking for, however, is happiness, not joy. They think that if they give enough presents and receive enough in return, they’ll be happy. They attend one party after another in the attempt to find happiness as well. They become happy because circumstances are positive, but when they are not, their happiness is gone.
But not so with joy. People can be filled with joy no matter what the circumstances may be, and that’s because joy is found not in what’s happening around us; rather it’s found in our relationship with God.
And so, we should prepare ourselves for Christmas, just as Mary, first in God our Savior.
Dennis Lee is Senior Pastor at Living Waters Fellowship, Mesquite, Nevada. He presently has two books, “From Here to There: A Journey to Spiritual Transformation,” and “Wells of Living Waters,” He also writes a religious column for a local newspaper entitled, “Rediscover the Bible for Life,” along with daily devotionals and thoughts that he posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Living Waters Fellowship’s Website
Joy to the world, Our Savior Reigns!
Those who know Jesus know His peace, and thru His peace know this joy… Oh what a happy thought!
Happy birthday Jesus!
I stand with you, brother! Merry Christmas!
Truly He is our Prince of Peace, and in Him is joy everlasting. I can’t wait for His soon return. Take Care and God bless
Amen! I am reminded of Psalm 16:11, “You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s, it says in Luke 1:41, “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” John the Baptist, even while in his mother’s womb, was filled with joy at the presence of Jesus within Mary’s womb. How much more should we be filled with joy, knowing that God’s presence through Jesus is always with us, regardless of what we may go through, and indwells us with His Holy Spirit. Also the apostle John tells us in 1 John 1:4, “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
Thank you Debbie, and in like manner may the joy of Jesus’s birth be yours throughout the year. Take care and God bless.
Thank you, Debbie, and may the Lord fill you with joy, as you remember, the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Take care and God bless.