So where are our songs of joy?

When Mary found out that she was to become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God, she erupted into a song of joy. When Zechariah, who had been struck dumb at the news that he and his wife were to have a child, took his newborn son to be circumcised in accordance with Jewish tradition, he too erupted into a song of joy.

Because when something this wonderful happens, how can you remain silent? How can you hold that amount of joy and awe and gratitude in?

His wife Elizabeth and her neighbours and relatives were already celebrating.

When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. Luke 1:57-58

They could see what God had done. How God had heard the cry of her heart and answered her prayer. How He had worked a miracle in her life. There was much to celebrate.

When Elizabeth is questioned about her choice of the name ‘John’ for the baby, Zechariah is consulted.

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John.’ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.  Luke 1:62-64

When Zechariah’s tongue is set free, all he wants to do is praise God. It’s been building up inside him all these months and now it all comes out in a torrent of praise.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.  Luke 1:68

That’s how Zechariah’s song of joy starts – with who God is and what He has done. That’s the only place to start.

He goes on to talk about David and the prophets and their ancestors and Abraham…and then there’s this –

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.  Luke 1:76-77

Wow! What an incredible thought – that this tiny baby will go on to prepare the way for God in human form! No wonder Zechariah cannot contain himself!

And so my question is this:

If God is still God and if God is still at work in our lives, then where are our songs of joy?

If this God created the heavens and the earth, then where are our songs of joy?

If this God is the God of love, then where are our songs of joy?

If this God is changing lives in the world today, then where are our songs of joy?

If we had even a glimpse of who God is and what He has done, we would have no need to strategies for evangelism and outreach programmes. We would know the good news for ourselves and nothing would stop us from shouting about it to anyone who would listen.

I don’t seem to hear many songs of joy bursting forth spontaneously in the Christian world. I hear plenty of moans and criticism and condemnation, but the true moments of celebrating God’s love and generosity and mercy seem few and far between. What’s happened to us, people? How did we become so jaded?

If we believe that the story of Jesus is good news, then why do we struggle so much to express it?

Why are our lives and hearts not overflowing with joy as we approach this time when we remember that greatest moment in the whole of history when God Himself became man, when the light of heaven burst through into our world?

This is how it’s done.

This is a worship song. This song of praise was performed live on X Factor. This song of joy was then performed live on the Jonathan Ross Show. This song about God’s amazing grace made it to number 7 in the UK charts. This song performed in the Radio One Live Lounge has had 708,061 views.

This is what I’m talking about.

Lord, I’ve been broken
Although I’m not worthy
You fixed me, I’m blinded
By your grace
You came and saved me.  Stormzy

This is out there. This is telling people in everyday language who God is and what He has done.

Oh my God, what a God we serve!

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!

I long to hear more songs of joy out there. Your song and my song of joy. If you have anything worth shouting about, then let me hear it! We are not all Stormzy. That is his way. Your way may be different. But finding a way to express what God means to you has never been more important than it is today.

Find your way. Find your words. Maybe find a way to do it without words.

When Zechariah found his voice, this was the reaction in his community –

All the neighbours were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.  Luke 1:65

Imagine if that was your neighbours, your estate, your community. We have the best news of all and we have no reason to be ashamed of sharing it.

It’s time for each one of us to find our voices….