December 19th 2025

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11

Heaven on earth. That is truly what happens with the birth of Christ. Heaven actually came down to earth. Later on it’s what Jesus tells his disciples to pray for. Now it was their turn to be walking ambassadors of Jesus, praying for heaven to be on earth and going about making that happen to the best of their ability. 

Christmas is a visual reminder that God listens. He’s living, breathing, active and real. When we pray and cry out to him he’s not ignoring us. For 500 years that’s what his followers thought. Where are you? Help us? End this! And all along God was listening and active. Jesus is a culmination of that answer. Another reminder that God’s answers don’t always look like ours…but are better. God was saying, “I am going to give you a piece of myself that you will always have with you. My presence, my assurance, my steadiness. That no matter your circumstance, I’ll be with you. No matter what happens, I will turn it to your good. Just follow me. Allow me to be in your day, your thoughts, your decisions. Let me be a part of you.” And when we do that our joy is complete. Our mind is not on earthly things but things above. Our priorities, even how we process life, grief, disappointment, fun, and hope will be through him. So often though we place our cheaper version of joy that is fleeting. Immediate gratification that doesn’t last. Easy answers that aren’t the best. 

Strongs Greek dictionary says Joy, xapa in koine greek or chara in the New Testament, is more than emotion; it is the settled, Spirit-given delight that happens from the grace of Jesus and comes from following Him. It is rooted in abiding with the Spirit, lived out in our lives, and expressed both now and in the future. In other words, it’s all the goodness of advent wrapped up into one word. 

What can you do today to bring a little heaven on earth?

- Chara Robinson