THE JOY EXCHANGE

A couple of years ago Alison got me the DVD set of the final series of 24 for Christmas. 24 was addictive although the maximum no. of episodes we ever watched was three in one go although I have a friend who claims to have watched 7. So when we had any time off we tried to catch an episode or two. After a few weeks we got to the 8^th and final DVD in the set. Barely able to contain our excitement we settled down to watch the last few episodes … and found that the 8^th DVD in the set was actually the 7th. There was no 8^th DVD, just two of the 7^th one. Aargh.

That was really annoying as we don’t often get the chance to sit down and watch something we really enjoy like that. Anyway, we got over ourselves and managed to find the receipt (Alison is good at keeping receipts) and I wandered down to the shop and explained my dilemma. No problem they said, we have got one copy left. Here it is. I’ll exchange it for you.

Can you imagine my joy?

It was a joy exchange.
 
Have you ever taken anything back to get it exchanged?

One end of the spectrum, Alison – buys a couple of tops and then gets home and in the clear light of day changes her mind and takes them back – still hardly worn, the label still on, in the original bag and with a receipt. On the other hand, my childhood friend, let’s call him Marmaduke, used to buy trainers, wear them to death, spot loose stitch, take them back and complain that the stitching had torn and demand a new pair. Some people buy a dress (the girls that is) for a party and then taking it back on the Monday saying it didn’t fit. There’s probably a PHD waiting to be written on the ethics of exchange.

This Christmas you may get something you are desperate to exchange. 

What I would love you to remember from this Carol Service is that there is a Joy Exchange available this Christmas and every Christmas.

This baby, born into poverty, a life given so that we may have a new life. His life in exchange for yours.
Our opening carol started with the word Joy. “Joy to the world the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room … the wonders of His love, the wonders of His love, the wonders of His love.”

What does it mean? It means that Jesus offers us a Joy Exchange. Prepare your heart for the wonders of His love.

The story of the Joy Exchange starts with the baby Jesus and finishes with the demonstration of His love for you and for me by His death as a 30-odd year-old on the cross.

We declare Joy to the world because through Jesus all that is bad and rubbish and painful and sad can be exchanged for Joy, for something that is good, for something that is love.
 
And there is no limit to this exchange. No time limit, quantity limit, damage limit. It is an immediate, total, no-questions-asked exchange of whatever you bring for something that is full of Joy. Something good, full of hope and love.

I don’t think there are any perfect people here today. If there are, I am not talking to you! The rest of us have something in our lives we would love to exchange. Maybe many things.

But you are thinking, there is no way Jesus would accept me David, have you seen what I would bring for an exchange? 

The Isaiah poem that we just read said this: comfort for those who mourn, provision for those who grieve, a crown of beauty instead of ashes, oil of gladness instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair, instead of shame a double portion, instead of disgrace, you will rejoice in your inheritance … everlasting joy will be yours.

This is the promise of God revealed in the bible – for you.

He is not offering a magic trick to make everything perfect. Instead of trying all sorts of tricks to solve our problems, the Joy Exchange is about knowing a person who loves us enough to give purpose and meaning and joy to our lives.

What might you want to exchange?
Depression Hate Anger Illness Bitterness Darkness Mourning Disgrace Shame Guilt Death Despair Grief Addictions Brokenness Weeping Lust Rage Impatience Violence Selfishness Self-centredness Self-pity Decadence Sorrow Betrayal
·         Jesus couldn’t exchange that could he?
·         Jesus shouldn’t exchange that should he?
·         Jesus wouldn’t exchange that would he?

Well I promise you that he will – the only condition is that you give Him everything.

The only condition is that you stand there and say, “Here I am, warts and all. All of me. The good, the bad and the ugly. You, Jesus, can have it all.”
 
And He says, that’s what I came for – and here is a new life, me, living within you. Here is the essence of Joy. My Holy Spirit filling you and changing you to become more like the person I made you to be. To give you hope and a purpose and an eternity and joy.
 

The Christmas story is about a Joy Exchange. That Jesus came as the Son of God, a baby born into poverty. He lived a perfect life which showed us how life should be lived. He then took all our rubbish on himself as he was executed on the cross. When he was resurrected he broke the power of death and now comes to you with an offer of a new life in exchange for your old one.

If you will give Him your old one He promises to fill you with his Holy Spirit and bring Joy to your life.