Christmas Devotional | JOY
This Christmas we wanted to bring you messages of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace!
Influence Music, Thrive Worship and Cade Thompson share encouraging thoughts on keeping our eyes fixed on the source of our joy this season.
Influence Music, Harvest Worship
The Day That Christmas Came
As we look to Jesus during this Christmas season, our hearts are filled with JOY!
We are swept away to that night in Bethlehem when our Savior was born. As we read through Luke 2, we’re overcome with reverence as we picture the scene of young Mary tenderly holding the Creator of the universe in her arms. A sense of awe and wonder fills our hearts as we imagine the lowly shepherds witnessing a host of angels heralding the arrival of the Messiah. It is often said that heavenly joy differs from earthly happiness because it persists even through hardship. We can only imagine the weight of responsibility, exhaustion, and perhaps even uncertainty that Mary must have felt as she looked into the eyes of our Savior.
Yet Mary declares only one chapter earlier, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47).
Before Jesus was even born, Mary’s heart was filled with joy at the great blessing God bestowed upon her. This is the heart behind our song, “The Day That Christmas Came.” As we celebrate the birth of our Savior during the Christmas season, we want to be filled with joy for the greatest blessing of all: salvation in Jesus Christ!
As worship leaders, the Christmas season is often one of the most demanding times of the year, with dozens of events, new songs to learn and teach, our own family gatherings to attend, and even our personal struggles. But despite the busyness, Christmas is also one of the most rewarding seasons!
We echo 2 Corinthians 12, where the Lord tells Paul that the power of God is made perfect in our weakness. We can take heart that even through our weakness, Jesus Christ is magnified! Near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus prayed for the unity of His church. In John 17:23, Jesus prays to the Father, saying, “I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent me and that You love them as much as You love me.”
Jesus’ prayer for unity was one of the catalysts for writing “The Day That Christmas Came.” Two teams, Harvest Worship and Influence Music, came together to declare that God loves us so much that He sent His Son to be our Savior! That is the joy that encapsulates “The Day That Christmas Came,” and that is the joy that Jesus has called us to share with the world during this season and every season.
Merry Christmas from Harvest Worship and Influence Music!
Influence Music, Harvest Worship | “The Day That Christmas Came”
Resources on MultiTracks.com.
Thrive Worship
Christmas Volume 1
Corbin from Thrive Worship has a message of joy this Christmas season!
“We actually believe and we have a gift of grace that we cannot purchase, afford or earn."
Thrive Worship | Christmas Volume 1
Resources on MultiTracks.com.
Cade Thompson
Cade Thompson Christmas
Cade Thompson shares a message of joy for the Christmas season!
“Happiness is temporary, but joy is eternal.”
Remember when you were a kid, and you couldn't wait to open that Christmas gift you'd been looking forward to all December? It turns out to be just what you wanted, and the excitement is evident. Joy is a lot like that. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have access to the same good things, but we often forget to fully enjoy them.
For many people, including myself, the holiday season can get pretty hectic. It's supposed to be a joyful time, but it often turns into a stressful rush just to get through it. One thing that changed my outlook on life is the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness depends on what's happening around you, but joy is found through your relationship with Jesus and isn't affected by circumstances.
Let's go back to Christmas in 2010 when I was a 9-year-old boy. I really wanted a cool mongoose bike with blue paint and orange fire stripes on the side. But there was a catch—when I finally found that bike under the tree and unwrapped it, I couldn't enjoy it fully until the weather was nice enough to ride it outside. It's a bit like finding joy in life; it's often right in front of you, but you need to look past the pain or sadness of the moment to discover it.
Imagine your life as a gift, much like that cherished bike on Christmas morning.
Just as I had to wait for the right weather to fully relish my new bike, we sometimes need patience and perseverance to fully appreciate the joy life offers. Joy is a treasure often concealed beneath the wrapping of life's challenges, disappointments, and struggles. It's there, waiting for you to peel away those layers and embrace it.
This Christmas season, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your life. Consider the areas where you've been settling for temporary happiness rather than embracing the enduring joy that can be found in your relationship with Jesus.
Joy isn't a fleeting emotion tied to circumstances; it's a source of life that flows from your faith.
"The joy of the Lord is my strength," a truth that reminds us that the joy of God can empower us even in our most trying times.
"Restore to me the joy of my salvation," a heartfelt prayer that speaks to the renewing power of faith and the joy it can bring.
This Christmas, take a deep breath, savor the present moment, and let the joy of Jesus fill your heart. Like unwrapping that gift you always wanted, unwrap the joy that's been waiting for you all along. I'm looking forward to Christmas with great anticipation, and I hope you are too.
Cade Thompson | Cade Thompson Christmas
Resources on MultiTracks.com.
