AS A LITTLE CHILD I LEARNED A Sunday school song that went something like:

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart! Where?
Down in my heart! Where?
Down in my heart!
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart
Down in my heart to stay.

Sadly, some people who have sung this song have kept the joy down in their heart and never let it out. They quote, “The joy of the Lord is my strength,” but the outward presence of that joy doesn’t seem to be too strong in their everyday life.
When the angels proclaimed the birth of the Christ-Child it was with great joy for all people. His birth was a cause for all heaven and earth to celebrate, and thus it should be today.
The arrival of Jesus was the joyful proclamation that God had set in motion that which would bring our redemption from sin. And that is reason to shout!
This Advent season, and throughout the coming year, let us let the joy out of our hearts and into the world. Let us join with the heavenly hosts and proclaim, “Joy to the world the Lord is come!”