JOY is what Christmas brings

The angel of the Lord announced, "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people" [Lk 2:10]. Mary rejoiced. "My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior" [Lk 1:46, 56]. This is amazing. John the Baptist, in the womb of his mother, "leaped in my womb for joy" [Lk 1:44]. "The wise men rejoiced" [Mt. 2:10]. "A multitude of the heavenly host rejoiced" [Lk 2:13, 14]. The shepherds rejoiced [Lk 2:20]. Simeon rejoiced [Lk 2:25-32]. There is much more but Christmas is surrounded by joy. We must let joy fill our lives with everything God does "for ALL things work together for good" to His children. [Rom 8:28].

We all know that but do not count on it at all times. We MUST. This is how to rejoice all of the new year, all year long. "Rejoice in the Lord" [Phil 4:4]. "Rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven" [Lk 10:20]. Don't rejoice in anything you do or have but in Spiritual things, being saved above all. "Rejoice ever more" [1 Thes 5:16]. Don't gripe or grumble about problems or petty things but rejoice all the time "in the Lord." Keep it up. Keep your mind stayed on Him. "Set your affections (your mind) on things above" [Col 3:1]. "These things write we unto you that your joy might be FULL" [1 Jn. 1:4]. "These things have I spoken unto you...that your joy might be FULL" [Jn 15:11]. "Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be FULL" [Jn 16:24]. God wants you FULL of joy.

Ask for souls! Most don't and don't get many or any, either. Go for souls. Look what winning the lost will do. That shepherd who had 100 sheep and lost one, went after it until he found it and "he layeth in on his shoulder rejoicing" you will too [Lk 15:5]. Then his friends and neighbors "Rejoice with me for I have found my sheep which was lost" [vs 6]. Oh my, that was the tip of the ice berg, there was joy in heaven [vs 7]. God rejoices! Folks, let that sink in. That is one thing, the birth of the Son of the living God is all about!

Sum it up, "The joy of the Lord is your strength" [Neh 8:10]. The man Christ Jesus, "was a man of sorrows" [Isa 53:3] but "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross" for you and me! He suffered and died for all our sins, paid the debt in full and rose again to be our living Savior. And we are going to heaven instead of hell because someone gave us the gospel. [Heb 12:2]. Shouldn't you pass it on? Have you trusted and received Him as your Savior? Why not do it now? Tell God you will receive Him.

YOU are loved by God and me, ABC C. Sumner Wemp, Dallas, TX USA. sumner@sumnerwemp.com