I want to talk about one more
thing that will change Christmas. Can you think of somebody who is joy
impaired? If we could fully embrace joy it would change our Christmas. Joy is a
vital part of the Christmas story.
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good
news of a great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10)
How do you get joy? You just
can’t tell people to be joyful; it’s like trying to push spaghetti up a hill.
The issue is not that we need joy; the issue is how do we get joy.
The word “joy” comes from the Greek
word that comes from another Greek word that means “to be really, really,
really glad.” And this word comes from another word that means “gift.” You see,
gladness and gift flow together. You can’t have one without the other. But in
order to be glad for a gift we have to receive that gift.
“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good
news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this
day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a
sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a
manger.’” (Luke 2:10-12)
That is good news for everyone,
but you must be willing to receive this gift.
As I’ve gotten older little
seems to surprise me, and that’s tragic. Nothing really holds the wonder and
awe for me the way it should. Is that true of you?
The joy of Christmas is the
wonder and awe of the gifts. Kids are amazing; they are in awe and wonder of
everything. I am afraid that the more a child hangs out with adults the more
they lose their wonder and awe.
Step back from Christmas and
look at all the gifts in your life…
·
Look at your family…they are a gift!
·
Look at your life…it is a gift!
·
Look at your friends…they are a gift!
·
Look at your church…we are a gift to each other!
This Christmas let’s turn down
our cynicism and embrace wonder and awe. Stand in awe and wonder at all the
gifts around you. To experience joy you need to go back to awe and wonder.
I want you to receive like a
kid. I want you to be really, really, really excited.
God chose to enter our story and
rewrite it. He chose to become man and give us grace. If you don’t receive
grace you can’t experience grace. Christmas is about receiving grace.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your
own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)
Grace is a gift we can’t earn,
didn’t deserve, but we must receive it like a child with wonder and awe and
shock. We can’t experience it unless we receive it. Grace is a gift we must
receive in order to have joy.
This Christmas have a little
awe…have a little wonder…have a little shock!
Grace & Peace,
Scott
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