Psalm 98: 4-6
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
    break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
    with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

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Joy to the world; the Lord is come; let earth receive her King:
Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing.

-Isaac Watts

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The subtle power of this song is that forces me to confront the reality that I am perfectly content singing joy to my world, or maybe even our world, so long as I like the people around me. But joy to the world?

It’s easy to say that you want the best for everyone but then you celebrate and smile when your enemies find themselves under investigation from special council. It’s easy to say that God loves everyone without confronting the reality that we rarely do the same. It’s easy to sing a song you probably memorized as a child without stopping to think about what it is actually inviting you to do: Joy to the world. The whole world. Joy to every dictator and everyone named Donald and all the people I disagree with online. 

Joy to the world.

-Rev. Jim Keat

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If you’re honest, who are the people that you do not want to have joy? What difference would it make if you prayer for “joy to the world” could extend to them as well?

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This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Jim Keat. Background tracks include Relinquish by Podington Bear and Lightning by Kelly Pratt.

Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to download the 2018 Advent devotional and to listen to more episodes of Be Still and Go.