Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Christmas is almost upon us once again. I wonder - is your heart full of comfort and joy? Christian and non-Christian alike may be struggling at this otherwise festive time of year. Maybe you are broke or straining under a load of debt. Maybe you're not sure how you will pay your bills come January. Are you sick, tired, depressed and discouraged? Life is often challenging at a level that seems beyond us.

There is a Christmas hymn that has a very simple reminder that may help you and I with some of these difficulties.

Verse 1
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
when we were gone astray

Refrain
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Let nothing you dismay, i.e., don't be discouraged about all those things we listed. Yea, right! How's that going to happen?

Check out the next line. Do you remember? Do you remember who that little Christmas baby is? Have the cares of this world crowded Him out of your mind and heart? There is great courage to be found in focusing on Jesus Christ - His purpose, power, love and compassion. He, like His Father, has never failed. Life, joy, peace and hope can all be found in Him. So Remember!

Unlike those who have not been born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Christian has a new life to live. Before Christ we were certainly gone astray - living a life of slavery to the world, the flesh and the devil. Now that we are saved, we can live a new life. Even as a slave of righteousness, our hearts will bear a message of comfort and joy, and our Father who knows all of our needs, will provide.

God Bless You,
Dennis