Joy to the World

Shout joyfully to ADONAI, all the earth. Break forth, sing for joy, and sing praises. Sing praises to ADONAI with the harp, with the harp and a voice of melody. With trumpets and sound of the shofar blast a sound before the King, ADONAI. Let the sea roar and all within it, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing for joy together. – Psalm 98:4-8 TLV

Whenever I think of Jesus’ birth, I think of the joy He brought to the world, filling our hearts with great anticipation of an expected end. When we are reminded that He came, and of the reason He came, our hearts should be filled with hope, joy, love, and peace that surpasses all understanding. Our joy and peace should come from the assurance that He came because of us. He gave up a crown of glory to be birthed in a manger among cattle so that we would be given the opportunity to wear a crown similar to the one He set aside when He left heaven. In this season of Advent let us prepare Him room in our hearts so that He can show us how to love the world as He loves it.

Let us sing along with heaven and nature the songs of glorious redemption so that sinners may know that they too can be made righteous through justification, kept righteous through sanctification and be presented righteous to God through glorification. He was – Jesus incarnate – the ultimate sacrifice for our sins who justified us in His resurrection (Romans 4:25). He is – Jesus ascended – the One who sanctifies us through His truth .

(John17:17). He is to come – Jesus our glorified King – to transform our bodies to be like His (Philippians 3:20–21). As we encourage the world to prove the glories of His righteousness, let us help them to see, as we live the word, that He rules with truth and grace and that the wonders of His love make us joyful and triumphant.

From Ripton Morris