Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ.
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plainsRepeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
(Joy to the World, Verse 2)
Series: Joy to the World
It’s the time of year many of us gather with family and friends to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We sing Christmas Carols full of all the right lyrics and we go to church to listen to the story of a baby born in a manger and wrapped in swaddling cloths. I’ve been reflecting on whether I am embracing the magnificence of Jesus coming, or if I am too overwhelmed with all I need to do to relish the true JOY of the season.
I love our family traditions: baking our favorite goodies, wrapping presents, and, of course, hoping for that “white Christmas.” There is something to be said about sharing this season with loved ones. Drawing close to family and friends near and far is one of my favorite things. Reflecting on these moments brings a smile to my face and truly warms my heart. Still, there must be room for Jesus at the center of all of this, or I will miss the greatest opportunity to offer praise and worship to Him. After all, God created us for His glory!
When was the last time you experienced the wind blowing through your hair? The sunshine warm on your face? The thrill of hiking in the mountains, or lying under the stars at night? How about the sheer delight of running through a field of flowers? If you have experienced any of these, you have seen the wonder of creation. The same awesome God who created you so wonderfully complex has done the same with every aspect of our world. From the rocks we skip over the water, to the beauty of a rainbow after a storm—God has given us incredible ways to see Him in our everyday lives. Are we paying attention to the beautiful gifts He has provided us? Scripture tells us that all creation sings praise to God. Just as we were created to glorify and worship the Lord, so were the trees, animals, clouds, and stars. Psalm 148 proclaims this truth to us:
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever—he issued a decree that will never pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. (vs 1-13 NIV)
This scripture covers a multitude of creation, and explains that even nature worships God Almighty. As humans, we get caught up in so many things. Sometimes we forget the pure joy of worship. One thing is clear: to see God, we need only to look at His creation.
For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20 ESV)
Maybe there is something we can grasp from nature about worship. As the tree branches grow upward, reaching for the Heavens, we may lift our hands high in praise of our King. Just as the stars shine brightly, resonating the light of Christ, we too can be a light to all those around us. We can shine His light with admiration, joy, and grace to others. As the fields bloom with wildflowers in one season and lay dormant, waiting to burst again, we too can have a season of service and a season of rest. Nature responds to the way God created it to be. How do you respond to your Creator?
Worshipping the Lord during the Christmas season will look different for each of us. How can we express our gratitude and praise to the Lord today? There are the obvious answers like reading our Bible, going to church, and remembering others in prayer. But how about the self-less gesture of extending a helping hand to someone in need, or visiting someone who can’t see their family this year? Being the hands and feet of Christ here on Earth can be one of the most powerful forms of worshipping our God.
“And He will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.’ (Matthew 25:45 NLT)
As you make room for Jesus and worship Him this season, think about how all creation truly sings out to the Lord. In fact, it was the shining of a star that made the announcement of the birth of our King!
And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:9-11 NLT)
Let Christ reign in your hearts this season and may the God of Hope fill your home as you worship Him.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Psalm 148; 96; Romans 1:20; Job 38