Today’s blog is taken from the author’s contribution on the first day of the third week of Advent in the book The Battle for Christmas: A Daily Devotional for Advent and Christmas. Used by permission.

Welcome to the first day of the third week of Advent when we focus on joy! 

For many people, one of their favorite Christmas carols is “Joy to the World”.  It captures the majesty and miraculous nature of our Savior stepping down from Heaven and becoming human. 

Joy to the world the Lord is come! 
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room,
and heaven and nature sing!

You sang that in your head, didn’t you?  It’s okay.  Go ahead and sing.  Our faith is a joyous one filled with singing.  Singing is the overflow of our hearts when they are filled with emotion.  And celebrating the birth of our Savior is cause for singing! 

We read in Psalm 72:17–19: 

May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun.  Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.  Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.  Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. 

Psalm 72:17-19
New International Version

The joy we express as Christians—and certainly this third week of Advent—reflects the truth of these verses. All nations across this planet have been blessed by the arrival of Jesus.  It was through His life we are brought into a relationship with our Creator. 

Were it not for Christmas, there would be no Good Friday and Resurrection Day.  But because of the birth of our Savior, we have GREAT JOY! 

Take time today to pause and praise the Lord for the joy He has given you.  Perhaps you need to write down all the ways He has blessed you.  Maybe you could list all the times He has provided for you.  Certainly, you can find joy in the salvation of your soul. 

As we dance into the third week of Advent, we are not blind to the realities of our broken world.  The world is not joyful.  Things are not always rosy and terrible things happen. 

Yet, it’s in the darkest midnight the light of the Baby of Bethlehem shines the brightest.

Reflect on this favorite Christmas Carol, “Joy to the World”. 

Joy to the world the Lord is come! 
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth the Savior reigns.
Let men their songs employ,
While field and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, 
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, 
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love.