That first Christmas must have been a most wondrous night. Imagine the happiness that Mary and Joseph felt when they looked down at the newborn baby. The angels must have been bursting with excitement as they proclaimed the "the good new of great joy" to the shepherds. And think about the shepherd's elation as they saw Jesus lying in a manger and as they ran off to tell others what they had seen.

How happy does Christmas make you feel? I hope that you are feeling the joy of Christmas. However everybody knows that it is hard to sustain that happiness for long. Something always messes it up sooner or later. Should we use those snags and hindrances as excuses for not feeling the joy of Christmas? No. In fact, listen to the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians chapter four again. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Rejoice and if you didn't get the first time, again rejoice. Rejoice always! And the epistle writer even gives the reason to rejoice: The Lord is near.

So let us all rejoice always. Let us rejoice with a gentle joy. Let us rejoice with a prayerful joy. Let us rejoice with a peaceful joy. The Lord is near.

1. With a gentle joy

I can remember a few times in college when I was home for the holidays with my family and an argument would break out with my brothers. Inevitably my mother would say, "Do you have to argue; it's Christmas. You are only home for a short time. Let's enjoy it." She was right. If we let the argument continue, we would eventually leave and there would be sour grapes and regret aplenty.

I think that applies to our lives in general. Life on earth is short. The time God gives to us is not lengthy compared to eternity. The time is way too short for loveless bickering. Yet how often don't we find ourselves complaining about other people and picking fights for really insignificant reasons? It happens in our families, in our church, with our friends, and at work.

Are we letting sin win over our daily lives? We must repent of these sins. We must ask for God's forgiveness for our self-centered attitudes and sinful pride that makes us think that we are always right. We must be penitent for our lives of foolish anger.

And we must look to Jesus for that forgiveness. He is the one who put us first. When Christ came to this earth, it was not a self-centered action. When Jesus died on the cross, he wasn't thinking of himself. He was putting us first when He paid for our sins, removing them forever.

Out of thankfulness to our forgiving Savior, let us rejoice with a gentle joy. Let us live differently now, following the example that the Lord has set for us. Philippians 4:5 tells us, "Let your gentleness be evident to all." That word "gentleness" means the exact opposite of being self-centered. We ought to defer our own interests for the interests of others. Jesus gave his disciples an example of this humble gentleness on Maundy Thursday when he, himself, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, washed his disciples feet.

Your sins are forgiven and Jesus is coming again to end short time on this earth. He is coming so that you will spend eternity with him in heaven. Rejoice with a gentle joy! The Lord is near.

2. With a gentle prayerful joy

The sermon lesson also tells us to rejoice with a prayerful joy. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Prayer is our open channel to God and we are told to pray without anxiousness. The word anxious here has the idea of being pulled in many different directions at once. Can you relate to that feeling?

Let us not be anxious as we rejoice in prayer. Lay everything at Jesus' feet. I mean everything. When you pray and ask God for help, don't divvy up your concerns and wants thinking that God can handle some of them and you will take care of the rest. Put everything in God's hands and feel that joy that He returns to you.

Pray also with thanksgiving. Consider how much we owe God. He sent his one and only Son to this earth to be our Savior. He takes care of us in every way, spiritually and physically. He is always there waiting for us. With thanksgiving, rejoice with a prayerful joy.

3. With a peaceful joy

And finally, rejoice with a peaceful joy. It is difficult to find peace in this world. Nation fights against nation. Families fight with each other. We fight battles in our hearts and minds. Peace is not always easy to come by. If you feel this way, maybe you are looking for peace in the wrong in the place. God's peace is the peace that really counts.

Philippians 4:7 makes it clear for us. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." God's peace is grounded in the gospel. The angels pronounced that peace to the shepherds when they told of the Savior's birth. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

That peace is granted and guaranteed only in Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." We have true serenity in our faith. Whatever danger or trouble that lurks at your door can never destroy that peace which Jesus gives us to us. That peace stands guard over your entire Christian life.

Consider that peace in your life and live accordingly. Rejoice with all believers as you wait for the Lord. We share that peace which offers us forgiveness and salvation. If we chase after the peace that world is striving for we will never find it. Look no further than the baby born in Bethlehem who came to save you from your sin by dying on the cross.

Faithful Christians do not want to be self-centered. And nobody wishes to live their lives in turmoil. No one in his or her right mind likes to be sad and melancholy. Our gracious God knows this and He gives us every reason to rejoice. Rejoice with a gentle, prayerful, and peaceful joy. The Lord is near.