"Joy to the world and goodwill towards all men."
The message the angels gave the shepherds as they watched their sheep was filled with hope. I'd like to know why this message was phrased in such a way. I looked up the word "joy" in Greek, and it is the word "Chara." Some of the meanings of this word can be:
Cheerfulness.
Exceedingly joyful.
Exuberantly exited.
The same word is used in other places when Jesus talks about the sower sowing seed. Jesus describes the people who received the word with joy (Chara) - Luke 8:13. When the seventy disciples returned from their ministry trip, it says that they came back with joy (Chara) - Luke 10:17. Jesus also tells us that there is great joy (Chara) in heaven when one sinner repents - Luke 15:10. What do you think heaven looks like when sinners repent?
Acts 13:52 talks about the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit and great joy. Paul tells us what the kingdom of God is like:
Rom. 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness, peace, and joy (Chara) in the Holy Spirit.
It looks like we should be enthusiastically excited about serving Jesus. We could still be happy if we had not faced all those pesky temptations and trials in life. Why does it seem like it always steals our joy? If the kingdom is peace and joy, then circumstances should not steal my joy, right?
James the Apostle gives us some insight. He tells us that we should be joyful when we face all kinds of trials. "Count it pure joy (chara) when you fall into various kinds of trails - James 1:2. Did I read that right? That is what he says. Be exuberantly excited when you face these things. Why does James tell us that?
Facing trials is good because the testing of our faith has enormous rewards. The same thing happens in the story of Jesus' birth. Let's briefly look at the story of Mary - Luke 1:26-38.
The Angel appears to her and tells her she has found favor with God and that the child she would bear would be Immanuel, God with us. Wow, imagine an Angel appears to you and tells you that. The problem was that the favor of God looked like an unwanted pregnancy. What was a crisis to them was an invasion of God into the darkness of the natural world. God's favor does not look like a blessing at first. Is it possible that James is trying to tell us that the trial you face is God's blessing in disguise?
I refuse to believe the enemy has more space than the Holy Spirit in my life. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. It was all God working behind the scenes. If God can make all things work together for my good - Rom 8:28, then he can make a temptation a trial and a blessing in disguise. That is why we can face all trials with joy and get exuberantly excited about it.
What did Jesus see about his mission and purpose? I see this principle in the life of Jesus:
Heb. 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy (Chara) that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jude encourages us with these words:
Jude 24 Now to Him who can keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.
He has got you! Look at 2024 with joy and excitement. God is bigger than the devil or anything he can throw at us. I chose to stay joyful amid a crooked generation.
We pray that God's presence will overshadow you and your family in 2024 and that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, rule in your heart and mind. From us to you, we want to repeat what the Angels said: We bring you tidings of great joy and goodwill towards all men.
Merry Christmas!