Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

Joy is a word most people, Christian or not, associate with Christmas. Many are not clear, though, about the source of Christmas joy. Maybe it’s receiving the gift at the top of your wish list. You’d think so, watching the Mercedes commercial showing adults racing downstairs on Christmas morning, squealing with joy when they see the new luxury automobile in the driveway, or the Walmart commercial featuring kids dancing with joy to the tune of the old disco hit “Le Freak” after tearing open their gifts.
 
Of course, that’s not what the angel was talking about when he spoke of good tidings of great joy. The source of Christmas joy is the news that the King of the universe became a human baby in a manger. The promises and prophecies of ancient times have been fulfilled.
 
We know that. We know the right answer to the Sunday School question, What is the source of Christmas joy?  But how can we feel Christmas joy? How can we go beyond head knowledge and experience real Christmas joy and its soul-swelling thrill? 

I have a suggestion. In the Lord’s presence, by yourself or with someone else, use your imagination as you meditate on the good tidings. Think about the faithful remnant of Jews through a hundred generations who believed the promise of Messiah, kept watch for his coming, and died without seeing the day. In Luke 2:25-35, reread the story of Simeon, who had been waiting a lifetime to see the Messiah, and put yourself in his place. Do you think he danced? Imagine what the world would be like today if Jesus had not come 2000 years ago. As messed up as our world is, consider how much worse it would be with no Christians, no church – only a tiny handful of Jews still holding on to the hope of Messiah in an evil, pagan world. And finally, project yourself into the future, confronting your own death. Imagine what it would be like to contemplate obliteration (at best) and hell (at worst) with no hope of escape.
 
Don’t let the busyness of this week squeeze out time to creatively meditate on the angel’s good tidings and capture Christmas joy.
 
Here are other suggestions for prayer this week:
 
1.  It was wonderful to hear the Calvary kids from both the English and Chinese congregations sing in church yesterday. Take time to lift them, and their parents, up to the Lord.
 
2.  The holidays, with such a focus on family, is a tough time for children in foster care. Pray that, this Christmas season, they will somehow learn about their Heavenly Father, who knows them, loves them, and will never forsake them.
 
3.  One of my pet peeves about Christmas is the materialistic, post-Christmas question, What did you get for Christmas?  Pray for courage to answer, A Savior, who is Christ the Lord. That might lead to an interesting conversation!
 
4.  Pray for the many “C & E (Christmas & Easter) Christians” who will fill churches for Christmas Eve or Day services. Pray that something – a Scripture passage, a song, a message – will touch their spirits and draw them closer to the Lord.
 
5.  Remember our persecuted brethren in various parts of the globe who celebrate the birth of Jesus at great risk. I suspect they are more in touch with true Christmas joy that we are! Pray for protection and deliverance, for perseverance, and for courage.
 

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert
Calvary Community Church of Brea