Sharing Joy


 
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news
that will cause great joy for all people.
Luke 2:10
Christmas music! I love it. It’s playing in my house now that Thanksgiving is over. It’s been playing in stores for a few weeks now. Technically it shouldn’t be playing anywhere yet. It isn’t Christmas. It isn’t even Advent but the world isn’t so much concerned with those facts, so there’s jingling bells and reindeer paws and ho ho hoing everywhere. Do you know what else there is everywhere? Joy, Jesus, light, angels and hope. Everywhere!

What happens is that all kinds of public places put on “Christmas” music and while five songs may be about grandma’s untimely demise, cookies or bells at least one or two in the mix are going to be about the actual point of Christmas, which is Christ. I love it! All of those people who choose to actively avoid any connection with Jesus are now wittingly or not, singing about him.

Think about it. You’re walking through the crowded, of course it’s crowded it’s November, store and you find yourself singing “Joy to the World” or “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” or even  “Carol of the Bells” and you realize that the people around you are humming or singing along as well.  Happy people, relaxed people, cranky people, tired people, people of all attitudes and all belief systems are singing, wittingly or otherwise about Jesus.

Isn’t that exactly what we need? How wonderful would it be if even one person in each store in the world, one person who has never considered a life with Christ, finally heard the words, “let earth receive her King” and thought, I’d like to receive that King? Wouldn’t that be great! Think about your own town. How many stores do you have? How many are playing Christmas music? Now multiply that by towns and cities all over the world, anywhere Christmas is celebrated. Wow! If even one person in each store heard the message of the coming Savior, that would be huge. Is that person going to keep that message to himself? No! You know that starts the conversation.  “Have you ever thought about this?”

Let’s make that our Advent prayer. Pray that at least one person in every store hears the message of the coming Savior, of the joy of the Lord of hope and receives it in his or her heart.

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