Hope, Peace, Joy, & Love

How do Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love relate to the Christmas story?

Hope

We have hope because of the birth of Christ.  He being fully God and fully man was born with the purpose of dying for our sins.  If he wasn’t not fully man, then he couldn’t take our place.  If he wasn’t fully God then he wouldn’t have been sinless.  The perfect sacrificial lamb without blemish.  He died to pay for our sins so we could have the hope of eternal life.

Hope is not wishful thinking.  Christian hope is when God has promised something is going to happen.  You can put your trust in that promise.  Christian hope is a confidence that something will come to pass because God has promised it would.

Peace

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Jesus told his disciples before His crucifixion, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

Without the birth of Christ, there is no peace.  Real peace comes from the Holy Spirit.  He dwells in the hearts of Christians.  That peace allows a Christian to have that quiet confidence that no matter what happens, everything is going to be Ok. 

Joy

“Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King.”

As long as we are human and live on this earth, we will have problems and difficulties.  As a Christian we are saved through faith in Christ.  Because of our faith in Christ, we know where we are going.  We know “the end of the story.”  We know that Jesus has won.  We know that he will be victorious.  We know that Jesus conquered death on the cross.  We know that He rose again.  We know that He gives us eternal life.  That should be enough to give joy to anyone!

For more on Joy, see my previous post “What is Joy"?”

Love

Jesus is the greatest gift that God has given us. 

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16)

“Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Matthew 22:37-39)

Christmas is the perfect time to demonstrate our love for God and others.  Think of those who are less fortunate than you are.  Thank God for your blessings and share those blessings with others.

Celebrate God’s love for you by sharing that love with others.

.