Joy to the Heart of God

The coming of joy is one of the great claims of the Christmas story. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy when the Virgin mother draws near. The angel brings the shepherds a message of great joy to all the people. The Wise Men “rejoice exceedingly with great joy” when at last they arrive in Bethlehem. “Joy to the world,” we will sing at both services on Christmas Eve. Surely joy broke into our world when the Son, refusing to cling to his royal prerogatives, emptied himself and took on human form (Philippians 2:6-8).

I wonder if there is a way in our celebration of “joy came down” that we can join the angels’ song and, like an antiphonal choir, make our voices heard in heaven’s throne room.

Earlier this morning I logged on to an instant messaging site to check with a Brazilian friend on some Mission Commission business, and was greeted immediately by Emerson, another young Brasileiro and a wonderful friend and brother in the faith. We chatted for just a minute or two and exchanged news of our Christmas plans. Then the conversation moved on. Here is a verbatim of the discussion at Windows Live Messenger translated from Portuguese:

Bill says:

Will you give many presents?

Emerson says:

Unfortunately, no.

Emerson says:

We would like to. But our situation is a little bad right now.

Emerson says:

But, for sure, we can’t complain, for God has been very generous with us.  And this, for us, is more valuable than any other gift.

Bill says:

Yes.  God is always very generous with us.  Here in the USA we have many things, but often have little gratitude to God.

  Emerson says:

We are no different.  I have been ungrateful.

Emerson says:

We have our new house, we have our health, we have had peace and many other things that God has given us.

Bill says:

Emerson, what you say is so true.

Emerson says:

And it is in this way that God wants us to be different.  We are called to be grateful people who, even though we have little, bring joy to the heart of God by giving thanks for what we have. 

Earlier this year Emerson and his wife Nilcéia were able to move out of the favela and now live in what we would call government subsidized low-income housing. Their little apartment is clean and they are relatively safe behind the high walls and razor wire that surrounds their complex. Both Emerson and Nilcéia work full time and attend college at night. We support them in their studies through the People Projects of the Belo-Beaver Partnership (this week’s Sopa Domingo wedding soup will help Emerson and Nilcéia get a step closer to graduation and realizing their dreams). 

My conversation with Emerson, a son of the favela, is a call from God, a reminder not only to guard against the distraction of too many things, but, amazingly, to help bring joy to the heart of God.

God sent an angel choir to sing joy into the human heart; when we, even though we have little, are grateful for the gifts God has given, we send joy echoing back to God. 

Christians understand the power of conversion and have stories to tell of our own conversions. If, this Christmas, all the “is that all?” and “it’s not really what I wanted” comments of just we Christians were converted to “thanks for what we have,” the heart of God would be filled with joy overflowing. 

May there be joy to the world and joy in heaven this Christmas!