The familiar Christmas carol, Joy to the World, reminds us to, “Let every heart prepare Him room”. Is your heart prepared to receive the King? In today’s reading, we will focus on being prepared for and making Jesus welcome in our heart, in our homes, and in our world. Mary was making preparations and anticipating her baby’s arrival. The little One that Mary was expecting came at an inconvenient time. This pregnancy had some interruptions. Taxes needed to be paid, and not just by mail, it had to be done in person. They had to make an unexpected trek to Bethlehem when Mary was not just with child, but ready to give birth. Her doctor probably wouldn’t have advised it. They had to travel on the back of a donkey from the hills of Galilee to the town of Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, Joseph found that there were no more rooms available. Each inn where they stopped had the no vacancy sign. They were without options. At last they found an innkeeper who had compassion on them and told them they had stable facilities behind the inn that could serve as a makeshift hotel room. That night, without much grandeur, the “Expected One,” unexpectedly was born. As we prepare for the blessed event of Christmas this year, how are you preparing room in your heart for the Expected One? How much attention are you giving your relationship with Him? Is He welcome in your celebrations? Are you giving Him the priority and importance that He deserves? He wants you to welcome Him into your life everyday of the year. Jesus wants to be Lord of all the rooms in our heart. Let’s give Him the honor He deserves!
Joy to the World, Joy (Unspeakable Joy) by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, George Frideric Handel, Isaac Watts, Matt Gilder
Verse 1
Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
Verse 2
Joy to the world the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
Chorus
Joy unspeakable joy
An overflowing well
No tongue can tell
Joy unspeakable joy
It rises in my soul
Never lets me go
Verse 3
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
Word of the Day: Luke 2:7
Song of the Day: Joy to the World, Joy (Unspeakable Joy) by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, George Frideric Handel, Isaac Watts, Matt Gilder