The Transforming Power of His Love

By Joe Chesser

    Most of the songs you are hearing at this time of the year are songs of joy and happiness. Songs like Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, and Carol of the Bells are fun, upbeat and help put us in a festive mood. We are shopping, partying, and visiting with family and friends. It truly is The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
    But what makes it so is not colorful lights and decorations, it’s not opening gifts, nor is it eating huge dinners and playing games with family and friends. No, what makes this or any time of the year so wonderful is the transforming love of Jesus. People have always had decorations, gifts and celebrations.  Even pagans know how to throw a party and have fun. But what can make it different for us is Jesus.
    That’s why my favorite song this time of year, and even in July, is Joy to the World. The coming of Jesus to the world is the source of the greatest joy we can possibly experience, and Joy to the World expresses many of the reasons why His coming is so wonderful.
    Verse one. Jesus is King, and we have the privilege of receiving Him if we choose to make room for Him in our hearts. When we do, heaven and nature will sing! They won’t be silly songs like Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman. Silly songs are fun and do have their place, but the joy that Jesus brought to the world is much deeper kind of joy that deserves a deeper kind of song.
    Verse two. The Savior reigns! The fields, floods, rocks, hills and plains recognize His rule and are filled with repeated joy. Men should also … repeatedly!
    Verse three. Because of the transforming power of Jesus’ love, sin and sorrow no longer have the freedom to grow and infest the world. Jesus has come to bless the world in every place where sin has had its way. No matter where the curse of sin is found, He has come to make His blessings overcome them.
    Verse four. Jesus’ rule replaces the curse of sin with truth and grace. The glories of His righteousness will be known in all the nations of the earth. The nations of the earth will be enthralled with the wonders if His love. It is so different from anything else the world has experienced.
    Joy to the World is fun to sing. But the message of the song is its greatest asset. The next time you sing it be sure to think deeply about the words and how the coming of Jesus has transformed your life. It is a great song to sing any time of the year. Don’t let the other things we celebrate crowd out the true meaning of why Jesus brought joy to the world – to transform it with the power of his love!

- Joe Chesser preaches for the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO.  He may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com