The day that advent has been pointing to has arrived. I hope your celebration has been good so far. In the quiet here I found some verses and a song I enjoyed tremendously. I can’t help sharing some of that Christmas joy and love with you today.
Sharing Christmas Joy and Love Through the Word
“The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:11 (NLT)
This verse is just after the angels have revealed that Jesus has been born, followed by the heavenly hosts praising God.
“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:15 (NLT)
The shepherds went to see for themselves. Was this news about the Messiah true?
And today, that verse made me think that each one of us has to do the same. We hear the news about Jesus, but we have to see for ourselves if it is true. We can’t take someone else’s belief.
I used to wonder why. But I think now it’s because just like when we meet a friend of a friend. We have to experience who that person is before we can call them our own friend.
Love Like No Other
And as we get to know Jesus, we begin to experience His love, which is unfailing and faithful. I think these two verses go together well.
“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:14 (NLT)
Jesus agreed to be born as a human and live on earth. And that baby opened the door for us to become part of a new family. We are reborn as children of God.
Jesus’s human birth allowed our re-birth!
“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.” 1 John 3:1 NLT
Sharing More Christmas Joy Through Music
Here is my favorite virtual performance of Handel’s Messiah. It fills me with joy.
You can listen to it here. (It’s only 2 minutes and 8 seconds!)
I love that the musicians are all different ages, dressed differently, and in vastly different locations, all blend together to perform a sublime performance. I love listening to the names of Jesus overlayed on the layers of music.
It also makes me think that our Christian life is like that as well. Each person brings their unique gifts and style, and a beautiful whole is formed.
I hope you are filled with joy too when you listen. (It’s only 2 minutes and 8 seconds long!)
So, I hope that these words gave you some more joy and love this Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
Photo: Helena Hertz on Unsplash