And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all the people. Luke 2:10
I admittedly am a last-minute shopper. But being retired, I have found myself out and about much more than usual this time of year. According to the cashier at the Hobby Lobby, whom I chatted with briefly after over twenty minutes of waiting in line, I am correct in saying the hustle and bustle of the holiday season seems to be in full gear, and December has barely started. I love everything about Christmas and can be guilty of getting caught up in my to-do list, and my focus can get off-target. So I love it when God, in His infinite wisdom, unexpectedly guides me to a devotional, sermon, or something in everyday life that reminds me to adjust my priorities. The true joy of Christmas is found in God’s presence. When we step back from the busyness of Christmas or even the busyness of life and focus on the gift we were given, in Christ Jesus, the joy of the season will be found.
Busyness at any time, particularly at Christmas, can rob us of joy and is a genuine spiritual threat. As Christians, our lives should exude joy. Paul’s admonition to the church at Philippi was to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4). To the church of Galatia, he listed joy as one of the fruits of the Spirit that evidenced their freedom in Christ (Gal 5:22). When unbelievers see us, especially during the holidays, grumbling and stressed out wearing the tee-shirt that shouts “Jesus is the reason for the season,” I’m sure they are questioning more than our wardrobe selection. Jesus tells us in John 15:11 that we should be filled with the fullness of joy. Busyness attacks all that. As wonderful and fun as present wrapping, cookie baking, and holiday parties, all done in the name of Christmas can be, they tend to bombard our joy when we become overwhelmed and lose our focus.
Imagine the joy on parents’ faces as they welcome their newborn baby into this world. Then multiply that by tenfold. That is the joy we should feel when we focus on the source of our salvation, which came wrapped in swaddling clothes. David wrote in Psalm 16:11, “….in your presence there is fullness of joy.” Joy comes from living in the presence of God. And we should celebrate Christmas remembering what God did to make Himself known to us through His Son. That’s the real and everlasting Christmas party! Don’t let the busyness of the season steal your joy. If you feel it slipping away, stop, take a deep breath, and sit in God’s presence for a while. Dig into His Word, listen to your favorite Christmas hymn or podcast, pray, or just be still and reflect on the gift you have been given and the joy it brings to your heart. Christmas is a season of great joy, and God wants us to enjoy it. It is His gift to us. And there is no better gift to be had. Joy to the world, the Lord has come! And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.
The picture is of geese that decided to cross the road in the middle of a busy intersection right in front of my car. Our only option was to sit and wait. It reminded me that sometimes, in the middle of the busiest times, we must stop and slowly waddle!