The fragrance of Thanksgiving dinner is rapidly waning and plans for Christmas are formulating in our hearts and minds. There is no sugarcoating the reality that the Christmas 2020 celebrations will differ greatly from ones we previously experienced. The year was filled with hardship and loss as COVID-19 ushered in a wave of unemployment, illness, and death. At the least, most of us suffered from disruption to daily life. Church, work, school, social life, and travel all changed literally overnight.
As we anticipate Christmas 2020 we have two choices—either focus on what we cannot experience and whine, or concentrate on the joy that celebrating our Savior’s birth should invoke in our lives. Simply put, Biblical joy is choosing to respond to external circumstances with inner contentment and satisfaction because we know that God will use these experiences to accomplish His work in and through our lives. James reminds us that we can choose to respond with joy, even during times of trials and sufferings (James 1:2-8).
Since joy is a choice, it is appropriate to ask, “rather than emphasizing the challenging situation confronting our world, how can we joyfully celebrate our Lord’s first advent concurrently with anticipating His second coming?” Several thoughts assist in the response to the question.
Realize that we can choose to joyfully celebrate our Lord’s birth without all of the events that frequently fill our holiday schedule. Perhaps limited personal people contact and absence of some holiday activities will allow us to truly worship our heavenly Father. Joy is a prominent feature of the true worship of God in the Old Testament. Wherever people know, love, and worship God, His love instills a joy that only He can infuse into our hearts (1 Chron. 15:16; Ezra 3:12, 6:16; Pss 16:11, 32:11, 51:12).
Recall that joy is a gift from God. Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit who resides in the heart of the believer. (Gal. 5:22). Are we willing to unwrap His precious gift to us this Christmas and dispense it generously?
Recognize that determining to follow God’s will increases our joy. I know that when I am faithful to share my faith with others and encourage my spiritual children, I experience deep joy. The apostle Paul experienced this often in his ministry (2 Cor. 1:24, 2:3; Phil. 1:4, 2:2; I Thess. 2:19, 20, 3:9; 2 Tim. 1:4; Phil 1:7). I readily identify with the writer of Third John who stated, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth” (3 John 1:4).
Refuse to allow circumstances to steal our joy. Paul states in 2 Corinthians 6:10 that Christians can even be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” This means that even when we are in the midst of a situation that legitimately brings us sorrow, our inner joy is never removed. The very core of our being can still rejoice in the fact that we are forgiven children of God who enjoy an intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe. Our joy is strengthened when we remember that, no matter the circumstance, God is with us (Rom. 5:3-5, 8:28-30; 1 Peter 1:6-8).
Remember that as Christians we are commanded to always rejoice! Paul writes in First Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” “Rejoicing always” does not mean that we are to place a phony smile on our faces regardless of what is going on in our lives or the lives of those we love. It does mean that we are to remain steadfast in our knowledge that God is in control and is our strength and comfort, regardless of our circumstances (Neh. 8:10; 1 Cor. 15:58). Since sin in our lives robs us of joy, we will want to keep “short accounts” with our heavenly Father and confess and repent of any sin of which we are aware. Such a response allows us to experience supernatural joy at all times…whether they are good or bad (Ps. 51:8, 12).
Kelsey’s Korner offers a poignant, personal account of her heart preparation for the joyful anticipation of His coming!
KELSEY’S KORNER
As of writing, I am 39 + weeks pregnant* (finally)! Although I now feel ready for our son’s arrival, the last couple of months have been filled with all manner of preparations—organizing the nursery, purchasing all of the necessities, installing car seats, packing hospital bags, etc. The process has been exciting, causing our anticipation to grow with each onesie we folded and “baby gear” we assembled. *Caleb Patrick Baker entered the world November 25, 2020 at 12:30 a.m. He weighed in at 7.2 pounds and measured 19.5”. Mother and son are doing well.
Several days ago while driving home from work and reflecting on all the “nesting to-dos” I had planned for that evening, a thought entered my head. I’ve spent each day in preparation, joy, and anticipation for the coming of my son. His arrival is imminent, and my longings to be ready for him are strong. Do I spend the same energy and excitement preparing for the coming of the Lord’s only son, my savior Jesus Christ? Am I really ready? Do I spend my days in joyful anticipation for His coming, too?
As I pondered these questions, I was reminded of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25. In this section of Scripture, Jesus’ disciples inquire what signs one should look for that signify the coming of our Lord’s return and when it will all take place. Jesus responds by describing the signs, or “birth pains” (24:8) that will occur before His second coming. He then goes on to explain that “…concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (24:36), so, be prepared (24:36-25:13)!
To better exemplify His warning to “be prepared,” in 25:1-13 Jesus likens the second coming to a marriage ceremony. In Near Eastern culture, wedding ceremonies were one of the most celebrated and anticipated societal events[1], and the portrayal in this pericope is no different. Ten young, unmarried bridesmaids wait likely outside the bride’s home, as was the custom, for the coming of the bridegroom and his attendants. This event customarily took place at night, and the bridesmaids would wait in anticipation with lit lamps for the arrival of the groom and the subsequent marriage feast. In our text, the bridegroom is delayed, and the true preparedness of the ten bridesmaids is displayed in what follows—five of the bridesmaids brought extra oil for their lamps, and five did not. As they waited, all of the bridesmaids became drowsy and slept until, suddenly, they awoke to the proclamation that the bridegroom was here! The five foolish bridesmaids realized their candles were out—they hadn’t been prepared—and in a rush to attain more oil, they completely missed the arrival of the bridegroom and the entrance into the marriage feast. Though they knocked at the door, they were not let in. Jesus ends the parable with this admonition: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (25:13).
The theme of this passage is clear—the Son is coming! And although there will be birth pains indicating the general time of His arrival, the exact day and hour is unknown, so we must constantly be ready. The question we are left with, then, is what does it mean to “be ready?” According to John MacArthur’s Matthew commentary, being ready for the Lord’s return requires two things: firstly, we must be saved, and secondly, we must live our lives for the Lord[2]. When Christ returns, there will be no last minute decisions to repent and be saved. If we find ourselves without the “oil” of salvation, then we, like the foolish bridesmaids, will miss the bridegroom’s arrival and be rejected from the marriage feast!
This truth is terrifying and should prompt us all to analyze our hearts. If we find we are not truly saved, we cannot delay any further, for the Son is coming! If we look at our hearts and see the blood of Christ atoning for our sins, however, we must then ask ourselves, “How am I spending my time?” Am I giving all that I have in faithful service to Him? Because we are sinful, there are always areas needing repentance and improvement. Hebrews 12 is a passage that offers much encouragement to me to give up sin and live in faithful anticipation of the Lord’s coming again.
This past weekend was a time of relaxation and peace in my home. With all of the preparations completed, my husband and I were able to rest securely and joyfully in the reassurance that we are ready for our son’s arrival, whenever that may be. Similarly, let us strive for the same security as we wait for the imminent return of God’s Son—prepared, secure, and resting in joyful anticipation!
THE EVERYDAY HOMEMAKER’S MONTHLY MEDITATION THOUGHT
God’s Word states, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4)
Therefore, I may boldly say, though the circumstances of the 2020 holiday season differ greatly from previous seasons, I am able to rejoice in the Lord since He never leaves me or forsakes me.
You might enjoy other of our Holiday-related Posts:
“Is Your Heart Tuned for a Harmonious Holiday Season?”
“This Holiday Season, Are You Willing to Include the Grieving on Your Guest List?”
“Are You Stressed or Blessed?”
“Giving the Gift of Unmerited Love”
“Are You Willing to Give the Gift of Family Hospitality this Holiday Season?”
Blessings on your day as you focus on making your house a home!
[1] MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 24-28. Moody Bible Institute: Chicago, 1989. Pg. 84.
[2] Ibid, 87-88.