What does Christmas mean to you? Christmas is a time for... you fill in the blank. It means so many different things to different people. I suppose it depends what you up grew doing as a family with your traditions.
But, I want to share with you this Christmas season that Christmas truly is a time of joy. As you watch the news and hear all the sad things that are occurring in our world, you might wonder how it could be a time of joy for each of them. But I say, that it can be an occasion to celebrate for everyone.
We read in the Biblical account in Luke 2 – where the angels came to give the good news to the shepherds of the special event that had just taken place. It says in vs. 10, 11 – Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be for all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.”
Joy could have another meaning for you or for me. It could signify a special feeling when we are together with family and you sit down and open the gifts you have bought for each other. It could mean traveling to a special place – your parents’ or your son or daughter’s home.
But today I want to share this definition. JOY means Jesus first, Others next and Yourself last. Back in 1998, Pastor Phil Toole of Mountain Valley Community Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, put it differently;
Jesus
O
You
The “J” stands for Jesus. The “Y” stands for you. Do you know what the “O” stands for? It stands for zero. Just what it says – nothing! What I am saying here is that the way to stay close to Jesus and keep joy in your heart, is to let nothing between Jesus and you.
That is my prayer for each one of you this Christmas – that you will experience the ‘Joy’ of Christ this year.
** The Sage Hills Evangelical Free Church (1244 Mesa Vista Rd.) is hosting a Community Christmas Carol Sing on Friday, Dec. 21 at 7 pm. A Community Church Choir is practicing and will bring Special Music – but we want to invite you to join us in singing many of the Christmas Carols that talk about the birth of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
Pastor Victor Koop