God Calls You to Delight in the Joy of the Season:
Taste and See that He is Good!
The Call to Delight
God calls you to delight in the joy of the season. He wants you to draw near, look closely, to taste and see that the Lord is good. Songs on the radio echo the refrain, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” To some people this is merely nostalgia or sentimentalism, which is a cheap imitation of true joy. God is not hoping for us to have ‘happy feelings.’ God came to rescue us and give us a deeper, more satisfying joy that reaches all the way down into our soul. The joy we long for is not found in delicious desserts, or spectacular champagne. Those are wonderful things, but they should point us to something greater. Consider the words of Isaiah:
“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live.”
– Isaiah 55:2-3a (ESV)
Don’t Miss the Joy in the Moment
Whether you go home for the holidays, or you have no “home” to visit, we all have things we love about this Christmas Season. You may be like my wife who loves peppermint ice cream, or kids who love to make gingerbread houses. I’m not sure if kids enjoy building the houses more than eating the houses, but there is joy in the midst of it all. And God wants us to be thankful for all the little things. God wants us to savor great food and fellowship. We shouldn’t take for granted that we may have another Christmas with the same family members or friends.
The “Already and Not-Yet’ of Delighting in Delicacies
As Christians we can and should do two things at once. First, we should rejoice over the good things God has given us today, and the gifts, food, and fellowship we receive from those around us. Second, we should realize these are only a foretaste of heaven. No matter how wonderful the fellowship, no matter how great the gift, Heaven will eclipse the joy we experience during The Christmas Season. And if we are facing a Christmas alone, or without loved ones near, we can see this more clearly. The beginning of Isaiah 55 speaks tenderly to the lonely among us. God promises to bless those who have no resources (Isaiah 55:1-3). Those who are without, can see so much more clearly that the best is yet to come, and the sadness of what we lack this Christmas helps to remind us of the plenty we will have in Heaven.
The Future Promise of Joy
Don’t be satiated by all the food, fun and gifts. In truth, they can never satiate. For what we really need is something that brings healing and hope to our soul, not merely full stomachs and lively jingles. This is what we read about in Isaiah:
“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
– Isaiah 55:12 (ESV)
Christmas is Not the End, but the Beginning
The end of the calendar year comes only a few days after Christmas. For this reason, we can be tempted to think of Christmas as something to mark the end. But we know it is really an event to mark the beginning of the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God.
For now, a great light has come to shine in the darkness and to overcome it! The word of God in the Old Testament has now come in the form of flesh in order to save you and me. Christmas should be a holiday, not where we think about closing out the year. Rather, it should be a holiday which launches us ever forward with hope and expectation. Our king is on the throne and will one day come again.
Inspired to Create with Passion for the New Year
Don’t miss this opportunity to embrace this amazing hope, and to let the joy of Christ spark your creativity leading into the new year. Consider how baby Jesus grew in stature and in wisdom, and then turn to your next creative project with expectancy that Jesus will guide you and direct your creative path.
Jesus will continue to inspire his creatives, as well as rejoicing in how they use their gifts to honor God. Jesus is not finished. He is just getting started. Listen for His Spirit to inspire you as you prepare for a new year, and seek to glorify God in all you do. You are not alone. Your God, your provider and protector is with you!
Let us know in the comments below how you are delighting in joy of the season this year!
Copyright © 2022 Joel & Michelle Pelsue. All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.
