Joy to the world …

Do you feel it yet?

We’re only two days into December, and yet things are changing. People seem to be feeling a little happier, a little lighter; people are starting to smile more, even sing a little more!

Aha!

That’s it!

We’re feeling a little more JOY!

Joy comes with Jesus!

As we enter the Christmas season and find ourselves singing and thinking more about Jesus, we can’t help but feel the joy that comes with Him. When Jesus first entered this world, an angel announced at His birth that Jesus would bring great joy to us, and that’s what He’s still doing today!

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. – Luke 2:9-10.

A season of joy is piercing into our world as we look to Jesus in the Christmas story.

It reminds me of a line stated by Mr. Beaver in C.S.Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” when he said, “And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”

Writing for the US Naval community publication, The Lighthouse, Lt. Baron Miller describes the Lenten season as our “exodus from winter”:

C. S. Lewis’ Narnia is a magical land that is always cold. The White Witch has kept Narnia under her spell, creating a permanent season of snow, ice and death. It was “always winter and never Christmas” in Narnia. That was until Aslan came back to bring freedom and “shake his mane.”

Like Jesus, Aslan the lion king represents freedom from death’s snare and release into joy. When Aslan is on the move in Narnia, winter begins to melt and life comes into bloom.

Lt. Miller concludes, “For us in the real world, Lent is very similar. Lent means ‘springtime,’ and it marks our exodus from winter into the dawn of spring. For us as Christ followers, Lent reminds us that Jesus is on the move and the joyous season of spring is here. He will provide for us a ‘crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair’ (Isaiah 60:3).”

The feeling of exhilaration we sometimes experience during the Christmas season is the joy we can know when we consider that good news of Jesus Christ. Sometimes people don’t quite know what to feel as we celebrate Christ at Christmas — don’t be afraid to embrace His joy!

Bruce Larson wrote about a conference at a Presbyterian church in Omaha. People were given helium-filled balloons and were told to release them at some point in the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. Since they were Presbyterians, they weren’t free to say “Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!” All through the service balloons ascended, but when it was over, one-third of the balloons were unreleased.

This Christmas, let your balloon go!

Look afresh at the wondrously good news of the birth of Christ, and let the weight and truth of that great event do its work of generating joy in your heart!

Scotty