More than Holiday Cheer

The Christmas season can be full of kindness, giving, laughter, decorations, shopping, baking, cooking, and eating. It can be a time for people to feel happy and look forward to something. But, for some, it can be a hard time of year, full of sorrow, loneliness, stress, chaos, or busyness. Christmas brings a mixed bag of emotions.

When I go out and about during this season, I tend to see more people with a cheerful attitude. But, I’ll be honest with you, I can be a Scrooge around this time of year. I get fed up with all the decorating, shopping, spending, and preparation for ONE day. Why do we make such a huge deal each year for one day? I’m quickly reminded of the reason for the season. It’s much more than food, presents, decorations, and holiday cheer. It’s much more than one day. What about for you?

God Became Man

As a kid, I was told the story of baby Jesus in the manger and the wise men coming to see Him. But I didn’t fully grasp what this all meant. I still don’t fully understand. God—the Creator, King of kings, Lord of lords, All-Powerful, All-Wise, Mighty, Holy, Righteous, True, Sovereign God sent His one and only Son from His heavenly dwelling to become a man. Isaiah 9:6 tells us: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” He was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) and experienced life like any baby boy. He had to learn to eat solid foods, talk, walk, and clothe Himself. Why would God do this? It seems so absurd.

God the Father sent His one and only Son to bring us joy. And it was out of His joy that He did this. God didn’t have to send His Son, but He chose to. And His Son went willingly. Let’s look at Luke 2:8-12: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’” The angel of the Lord brought “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” This good news is like no other news we’ve ever heard or will ever hear. A Savior was born. A Savior for all peoples.

This Savior is not only fully God but fully man. Jesus, our Savior, willingly came down to earth, to our lowly level, to rescue us. He came down, not because of anything we’ve done, but out of grace. Look at 2 Timothy 1:8-10: “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” Jesus coming down from heaven out of grace alone should bring us joy. We don’t have to do anything to earn His grace or salvation. We didn’t do anything to make God send His Son to earth for us. Does this bring you joy? Why or why not? Take time to pray and think deeply about this. Read about Jesus, His birth and sacrifice, in the Bible. You can read this in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

Before we go any further, let’s define joy. Joy is delight, exaltation, benefit, or profit (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words). Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “a sense of well-being; a source of happiness.” The fact that we, as sinners, don’t have to do anything to earn the grace and salvation from a Holy God is joy. It’s a delight, a benefit, and gives us a sense of well-being. It’s life-giving joy.

Life-Giving Joy

This life-giving joy makes Christmas about more than one day. This one day is a celebration for the One who brought us true and lasting joy because we have salvation, life, identity, purpose, hope, and so much more in Him. 1 Peter 1:8-9 says: “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Jesus is our salvation. He is the way to God the Father. He is life. He is truth. He is hope. When we are focused on Jesus during Christmas, we have true and lasting joy, not simply holiday cheer. Do you have joy that lasts beyond Christmas or do you only have holiday cheer for a short time? Or neither?

Let’s take a look at Jesus’ joy for our example. Hebrews 12:2 tells us: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus willingly went to the cross to die for us with joy. He was able to have joy in this because He trusted and obeyed His Father perfectly. He also had joy in this because He knew His purpose on earth—to save all peoples. From this, we learn that true and lasting joy comes from loving God and people like Jesus.

How do we love God and people? 1 John 4:7-12 explains: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” We are called to love others, and, in turn, we are loving God. But only God can give us this love. By the love of God in us and through us, we will find true and lasting joy.

This means, in following Jesus’ example, we are to sacrificially love others. We are to place others above ourselves. This can be displayed in so many ways. It can be through different acts of kindness. This may mean sacrificing our own time, money, food, and comforts for the sake of others. We go out of our way to share Jesus’ love with others. We are able to do this because we have a true and lasting joy from the love that God shows us through His Son and by His Spirit.

So, during this Christmas season, especially if you tend to grumble like I do, look to the only One who can bring you true and lasting joy through His love all year. You won’t find it in decorations, traditions, presents, food, or holiday cheer. You can only find true joy in Jesus Christ. And this joy came from this one day, when a child was born to a virgin to save all peoples.

Questions to consider:

Are you looking to this one day or to the One Savior to bring you joy?

Are you reminded of Jesus only during the holidays or all year? How are you responding?

Are you other focused? Why or why not?