"But sing, sing, oh universe, till thou hast exhausted thyself, thou canst not afford a song so sweet as the song of Incarnation. Though creation may be a majestic organ of praise, it cannot reach the compass of the golden canticle—Incarnation! There is more in that than in creation, more melody in Jesus in the manger, than there is in worlds on worlds rolling their grandeur round the throne of the Most High. Pause Christian, and consider this a minute. See how every attribute is here magnified." (Excerpt from The Whole of God is Glorified in Christ, Charles Spurgeon, Christmas Day 1857)
"The Adoration of the Shepherds" by Giorgione, 1505-1510
Dear friends,
This morning at Lake Baldwin Church, Pastor Mike Tilley preached from Luke 2 on "The Gift of Joy" during the Advent series.
Christmas reminds us that we were created for joy.
C.S. Lewis, an atheist intellectual until age 30, recounts his conversion story in his book, Surprised by Joy. He writes of the inklings of joy each of us can find in art, music, literature, beauty -- the common graces given us to show us that we were "created for joy." These are mere hints of the greater joy that we find in Jesus our Creator and Redeemer. An emphasis on the beauty of creation has certainly been a much needed boost to my own faith in recent years. It really helps me see his goodness and majesty so much more! As Mike reminded us that creation is a vital part of the gospel story, I remembered my own poem The Story Did Not Start with a Stable and a Star.
Unfortunately, so many reject the message of Christ because of misconceptions of who God is and what his intentions are toward us, perhaps because of distorted views of what a truly loving Father is like, or because of a dim and narrow view of theology that they have experienced in a church. They might see God as one who is vindictively poised to shoot down any attempts at real happiness. They might fear him: not the Biblical fear that is reverence (as in "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom") but the kind of fear that recoils from God as a supposed tyrant. When Jesus was born, the shepherds themselves were terrified of the angels until the comforting words came, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." God poured out his mercy on us in the Incarnation of Christ. His kind intention is reconciliation and redemption, so that we might have great joy.
C.S. Lewis, an atheist intellectual until age 30, recounts his conversion story in his book, Surprised by Joy. He writes of the inklings of joy each of us can find in art, music, literature, beauty -- the common graces given us to show us that we were "created for joy." These are mere hints of the greater joy that we find in Jesus our Creator and Redeemer. An emphasis on the beauty of creation has certainly been a much needed boost to my own faith in recent years. It really helps me see his goodness and majesty so much more! As Mike reminded us that creation is a vital part of the gospel story, I remembered my own poem The Story Did Not Start with a Stable and a Star.
Unfortunately, so many reject the message of Christ because of misconceptions of who God is and what his intentions are toward us, perhaps because of distorted views of what a truly loving Father is like, or because of a dim and narrow view of theology that they have experienced in a church. They might see God as one who is vindictively poised to shoot down any attempts at real happiness. They might fear him: not the Biblical fear that is reverence (as in "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom") but the kind of fear that recoils from God as a supposed tyrant. When Jesus was born, the shepherds themselves were terrified of the angels until the comforting words came, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." God poured out his mercy on us in the Incarnation of Christ. His kind intention is reconciliation and redemption, so that we might have great joy.
Christmas also reminds us that Jesus knows our sorrows.
Isaiah, who prophesied the coming of the Messiah several hundred years in advance, foretold a Savior who would be well-acquainted with sorrow and grief. He knows firsthand, from his 33 years of human Incarnation, what we are enduring, and even went far beyond that in bearing our just punishment on the cross. We come to a sympathetic Savior.
Perhaps we thought when we first came to him that a life of faith would mean that all would go well for us. We could "name it and claim it" because God wants the very best for his children, doesn't he? Yet he uses suffering to shape us, just as a refiner uses the fire to purify gold and silver. Christianity is not a denial of sorrow or pain, but an affirmation that "God is with us": holding us, comforting us, empowering us, drawing us into a deeper dependence on him.
For those of us who are going through a bittersweet season of difficulty or uncertainty, we have assurance that he has not abandoned us, but will turn our ashes to beauty, our grief to joy. Pastor Tilley quoted Charles Spurgeon:
Isaiah, who prophesied the coming of the Messiah several hundred years in advance, foretold a Savior who would be well-acquainted with sorrow and grief. He knows firsthand, from his 33 years of human Incarnation, what we are enduring, and even went far beyond that in bearing our just punishment on the cross. We come to a sympathetic Savior.
Perhaps we thought when we first came to him that a life of faith would mean that all would go well for us. We could "name it and claim it" because God wants the very best for his children, doesn't he? Yet he uses suffering to shape us, just as a refiner uses the fire to purify gold and silver. Christianity is not a denial of sorrow or pain, but an affirmation that "God is with us": holding us, comforting us, empowering us, drawing us into a deeper dependence on him.
For those of us who are going through a bittersweet season of difficulty or uncertainty, we have assurance that he has not abandoned us, but will turn our ashes to beauty, our grief to joy. Pastor Tilley quoted Charles Spurgeon:
"Man is like a harp unstrung, and the music of his soul's living strings is discordant, his whole nature wails with sorrow; but the son of David, that mighty harper, has come to restore the harmony of humanity, and where his gracious fingers move among the strings, the touch of the fingers of an incarnate God brings forth music sweet as that of the spheres, and melody rich as a seraph's canticle. Would God that all men felt that divine hand." (Charles Spurgeon, Joy Born at Bethlehem)
Christmas reminds us that joy has come to our world.
"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen..." (Luke 2:20)
Like the shepherds, we can make this message of praise the music of our own hearts, so we can sing with joy about what he has done for us and what he will do for us in the future. When he confess our faith in him, he forgives us all of our sins and reconciles us to himself. We have the hope of eternity in Heaven.
"Rejoice, ye who feel that ye are lost; your Saviour comes to seek and save you. Be of good cheer ye who are in prison, for be comes to set you free. Ye who are famished and ready to die, rejoice that he has consecrated for you a Bethlehem, a house of bread, and he has come to be the bread of life to your souls. Rejoice, O sinners, everywhere for the restorer of the castaways, the Saviour of the fallen is born. Join in the joy, ye saints, for he is the preserver of the saved ones, delivering them from innumerable perils, and he is the sure prefecter of such as he preserves. Jesus is no partial Saviour, beginning a work and not concluding it; but, restoring and upholding, he also prefects and presents the saved ones without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing before his Father's throne. Rejoice aloud all ye people, let your hills and valleys ring with joy, for a Saviour who is mighty to save is born among you." (Charles Spurgeon again, from Joy Born at Bethlehem)
Yes, things are not as they should be yet, but our longings for fulfillment remind us of what is to come.
"All joy...emphasizes our pilgrim status; always reminds, beckons, awakens desire. Our best havings are wantings." C.S. Lewis in Surprised by Joy
I'll close this little post with a contemporary carol we sing at Christmastime at Lake Baldwin Church: "Joy Has Dawned" by Keith and Kristyn Getty.
If you live in the Orlando area, join us on Christmas Eve for a service of "Lessons and Carols" from 6-7 PM. Lake Baldwin Church will also celebrate a Christmas Day service at 10:45, complete with a birthday party for Jesus for the children. All are welcome!
Christmas joy to you,
Virginia Knowles
P.S. More of my holiday posts are linked here: Christmas
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