Carols of Christmas - Joy to the World

I love to sing the carols of Christmas.  They are familiar old friends, telling the story of the birth of the Savior.  There is, however, a danger in their familiarity.  Sometimes can sing them heartily and feel the emotion of the songs without considering the message of the words.  In the next few days, leading up to Christmas, I would like to look at a few of my favorite carols and meditate for a few seconds on the message behind them.   I hope they might help you in some small way in the celebration of the incarnation. 

Joy to the Word!  The Lord Is Come. 

Unique among the carols of Christmas, “Joy to the World” has no mention of the manger, or the baby, or Mary, or Joseph, or the shepherds.  In fact, the focus of this carol is not so much the first coming of Christ, but his redemptive work, and even his second coming, his glorious return to set up his kingdom here on earth. 

Look at the affirmations of the song.  “He rules the world with truth and grace.”  Certainly, Jesus is sovereign over the affairs of man today, but the world is not in submission to him.   In his first coming, Jesus came to give himself as the sacrifice for sin.  Now, he is working in his church to bring the gospel to this world.  One day, though, when he comes again, he will rule the world with truth and grace.  All will bow down.  All will submit.  Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! 

On that day, sins and sorrows will grow no more.  Thorns will not infest the ground, remade in the absence of the curse of sin.  His glorious blessings will flow throughout the world.  All the nations will serve him, proving the glories of his righteousness and the wonders of his love.  All of that is coming one day. 

In the meantime, Jesus rules and reigns in the hearts of those who worship him.  He has come to us, offering salvation by faith, forgiveness of sin, and a new life in him. 

Remember the busy folks staying at the inn?  They were going about their business and never realized that Messiah had been born in the manger out back.  Surely, if the innkeeper knew who the pregnant woman was who knocked at door he would have made room.  But, as we all know, there was no room at the inn.  These busy people had no room in their hearts for Jesus. 

Remember the exhortation of the hymn.  “Let every heart prepare him room.”  Are you ever like the people of Bethlehem?  So busy that there is just no time for Jesus, no time for the Savior?  You are not hostile to him, you are just unwilling to rearrange your life to make room for him. 

What a sad irony that Christmas is often so busy that it crowds worship out.  How can we celebrate the birth of Christ if we ignore him?

One day, earth will receive her King.  Now, for us, the issue is individual.  Will you receive your King?   Will you prepare room for him in your heart?  When you give Jesus his rightful place in your heart, when you submit to him as King of your life, then you learn the meaning of true joy and experience the wonders of his love.