Joy, Peace, Hope, Love

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So let's close the week looking at the chorus of this song, where you will hear the words that gave the song its name He is the Reason:

Joy comes to those who seek Him, peace comes to those who find
Jesus the reason for it all
Hope fills the earth each Christmas, love everlasting flows
From Jesus the reason for it all, Yes He is the reason

The Gifts of Advent

There are four things promised here: joy, peace, hope, and love. And perhaps some of you will have recognized those four things as the main themes of Advent. Some churches light special candles and say special prayers for the four weeks leading up to Christmas as they worship, and these are the themes of the candles – Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy. I sing them in a different order in the song, but it was definitely Advent that I was thinking about.

Jesus Our Ultimate Reason

I think these are profound things to celebrate around Christmas time. It's a time of hope – remembering that our ultimate hope in life is Jesus and the relationship He gives us. It's a time of peace – which we spoke of a few weeks back when Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be the Prince of peace. It's a time of love – in which we are reminded that all Jesus did, He did in love. And it's a time of joy – as the angels said, they brought "good news that will cause great joy for all the people" (Luke 2:10).

And Jesus is the reason for it all! Often these days there are calls from Christians for people to remember "the reason for the season". This is what gave me the idea for the song. He is the reason for Christmas in the first place, and He is the reason for all of our hope, peace, love, and joy.

Enough of a Reason

Be reminded today that Jesus is enough of a reason for these things! What I mean is, if you have no other reason for hope – you still have Jesus. If you are struggling to find peace – Jesus can bring it. If you aren't experiencing a lot of love this Christmas – seek it in Jesus. If it's a joyless season in your life – be glad and rejoice, at the least, at Jesus' birth and His place as your Saviour and Lord.

Life has a way of stealing our hope, peace, love, and joy. But when we are Jesus' people, dedicated to spending time with Him, believing Him whatever comes our way, then we will always have a reason to celebrate Christmas, and the things that Jesus brought through Christmas.

I pray that you will remember the reason for the season this Christmas! Because whatever's on your heart, you have a reason for hope, peace, love, and joy, if you have put Jesus first.