Real Christmas Joy

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

The joy of Christmas. It’s sad when it ends. For some, it’s over when the decorations are put away and the tree is set at the curb for garbage. For some, it ends when the Christmas music is put back in its digital storage folder, not to be heard for the next eleven months. For some, it’s like a sugar rush, a feel good high that suddenly crashes to the ground.  

If you think about it, that’s the way it is with a lot of people, just waiting for the next feel-good fix. But don’t kid yourself, a lot of Christians live their spiritual lives that way. They bounce from place to place, meeting to meeting, group to group, ever desirous of something to make them feel better. 

Then we read the Magnificat — Mary’s Song, sung that first Christmas. She sang words of praise to God because He was powerful to save. Maybe Christmas would hang around longer if we did the same! She didn’t sing about a life without difficulties. Look at what she was facing: the scrutiny for being pregnant and unmarried, and the shame and anguish it would bring to her family.

Mary’s praise wasn’t rooted circumstances. No praise is, really. True praise is grounded in who God is and what He can do. That’s what makes Christmas special — any day special, for that matter. So, rather than putting Christmas in a box and storing it until next year, keep Christmas alive with praise to God for His power to save.

Because of Christmas, there is separation between BC/AD. Because of Christmas, there is separation between OR/NR — Old Rick/New Rick. That’s reason enough for year-round joy.

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent empty away. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." Luke 1.46-55