How to find joy this Christmas.

Do you enjoy Christmas?

For our family, Christmas begins in mid November. All three of our kids have birthdays leading up to Christmas, so to make it entirely fair, we get into Christmas from mid November.

We put up the Christmas tree. Lights are turned on. We get some carols playing. There’s so much to enjoy about Christmas. The anticipation of the big day is heaps of fun.

Maybe you enjoy the cooking? Trying out new and exciting recipes, setting the table with the old table cloth from the back of the cupboard, bringing out the good crockery and cutlery.

For many of us here in the Launceston area, this Christmas is a time for joyful reunions. People are now able to fly in from Victoria and NSW. The photos of tearful people embracing outside the airport brings joy. Maybe the sound of jet engines, and boat horns, and doorbells are filling you with joy?

So many of us get carried along with the joy of the season. The enjoyment of the busyness, the bustling, buying presents, the end of year work dinners where everyone eats and drinks a little too much.

There is much to enjoy at Christmas. And while all those other things are good, my hope is that we’d take a look at the reason for the greatest joy. In the thick of all this joy in our lives, lets not forget to enjoy Jesus this Christmas time.

¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 

In the book of Luke, in chapter 2 verses 10 and 11, we see that there is great joy to be found. We can rightly find joy in family and food, but Christmas leads us to see that there is something greater, more profound, a deep well of eternal joy to be drunk from. The angel comes announcing good news that will cause great joy.

A Saviour has been born. A King born into a world broken by disease, tragedy, disaster. He comes to a people whose sin has left them in darkness. Jesus came to a world full of fear and anxiety for what might happen next. The angel says ‘do not be afraid.’ Born and lying in the manger is a King who has come to save his people from the consequence of their rebellion against him. A King who has the past, the present and the future in his hands.

All the joy in our lives should lead us to see that beyond them is the giver of true joy. In him, lasting joy can be found.

Enjoy the family catchups, Christmas dinners, carols and holidays. Celebrate, give thanks, and let them point you to the one whose coming is news of great joy for all people.