On Saying "Yes Lord"

Matthew 1:20-21, 24 (NIV) 
²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."  ²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Luke 1:35-38 (NIV)
³⁵ The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God...
³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God."
³⁸ "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Luke 2:11 (NIV)
¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Matthew 22:36-39 (NIV) 
³⁶ "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
³⁷ Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment.
³⁹ And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 

Luke 6:46 (NIV)
⁴⁶ "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

One of the favorite carols of Christmas for many is "Joy to the World".  It's song that expresses a sense of hope in God's entrance into humanity, bringing redemption, and establishing his Kingdom rule.
The words:  Joy to the World, the LORD is come say something important.  In our age of relativity and self-authority is strikes me that we can sing the songs and never get the message.  Just like the passages above...the promise to Joseph and Mary is that they would be birthing God's son - the one who would redeem, and also rule (Matt. 1:21 & Luke 2:11).  They heard the words from the Lord - God - Yahweh - and had to consider the options before them.  Joseph awoke and "did what the angel of the Lord commanded him".  Mary responded with "I am the Lord's servant...may it be to me as you have said."


Jesus reminded his disciples, and all who were listening who were not following him as a disciple, that the first, greatest (most important) "commandment" [entole = command or requirement] was to acknowledge God's authority with all that we are...in our hearts, soul, and mind.  It affects all of our being to say "Yes Lord".
It strikes me in a sober way to hear the words of Jesus... "why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?"


That is the simple challenge of Advent and Christmas isn't it?  We welcome into the world the Savior, who is Christ the LORD.  He is the one whose Kingdom is established, his reign will never end, and he invites us to come in as a trust, and submission, to his rule.

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.