The word Joy seems synonymous with the Christmas season. On Hallmark channel you hear of “Christmas joy.” The old familiar carol almost everyone knows, “Joy to the World.” The joy of Christmas morning watching children open presents. Again, synonymous.
Yet, many people in the holiday season do not experience joy. For one reason or another, maybe even many, they struggle finding (or choosing) joy.
Let me suggest one way you can better find joy this Christmas season.
Serve
One of the specific reasons Jesus came to Earth was to serve. He said to His twelve disciples:
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
Jesus gave this instruction to His disciples as they were focused on their own selves. John and James had just asked for the chief seats in the Kingdom, and the other ten disciples were indignant about it.
Yet, the irony of this whole scene is the setting. Literally, Jesus, while leading them up to Jerusalem, had just predicted His death on the cross (Mark 10:32-45).
Joy Through Service
Jesus understood that it is possible to have joy whenever you focus first on serving others. Two examples immediately come to mind. First, the writer of Hebrews explains it this way: “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). The focus of serving others and bringing glory to God motivated Jesus’ joy.
Second, Paul explained, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, …And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil 2:4-5, 8).
Consider This Children’s Song
J – O – Y,
J – O – Y,
This must surely mean,
Jesus first,
Yourself last,
And others in between.
(Sung to the tune of “Jingle Bells”)
