Description
THE FULL TEXT OF THIS GOSPEL TRACT IS SHOWN BELOW IN THE NKJV VERSION.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
“Joy to the World” is one of the most popular Christmas carols of all time, but did you know it was not written as a Christmas song at all? Authored in 1719 by the famous English hymn writer Isaac Watts, this call to worship was intended for use year-round. Watts found his inspiration for “Joy to the World” in the message of Psalm 98, which encourages the whole earth to “Shout joyfully to the Lord.”
One hundred and twenty years later, American musician Lowell Mason united the lyrics with the tune we know and love today. It’s no wonder that this uplifting hymn has become a regular part of our Christmas celebrations, and is one of the best-loved carols of all time. After all, Christmas is the season of joy!
JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME
Christmas is a time for us to rejoice as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. On the night Jesus was born, an angel announced the joyful news: “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day … a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). We can rejoice that Jesus left His glorious throne in heaven and came to earth to become our Savior.
Why do we need a savior? The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin means “missing the mark.” We have all missed the mark of perfect obedience to God. Whether we have missed the mark by a little or by a lot, our sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Unless the record of our sin is wiped clean, we will remain separated from Him for eternity (Revelation 20:15).
LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING
What keeps us from experiencing deep, meaningful joy? The short answer is that we have removed God from His rightful place, and we sit on the throne of our own lives. We occupy ourselves with pleasure and possessions—things which soon will pass away. But God designed us for much more; He created us to live in relationship with Him for eternity. When we live in harmony with God, joy is the natural result.
How can we be restored to a relationship with God? The answer is Jesus. Even before He was born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ was destined to die on the cross as our substitute. There, He took the punishment for our sins. He then rose from the grave, proving that He is truly the Son of God—and that the way to everlasting life has been opened. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Now that’s a wonderful reason for joy!
LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM
It’s time to make room in your heart for the King. Recognize that your way falls short of God’s way. Turn to Him and put your trust in the Savior, Jesus. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
When your heart is made new through God’s saving grace, you not only receive forgiveness of sins: you also enter into a new life characterized by the peace and joy that come from walking with God. Even during life’s troubles, you will understand that “in [God’s] presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). There is no joy without Jesus. Do you know Him?
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