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READ: PSALM 98\n\n\n\nPop quiz: What famous Christmas carol was based on today\u2019s Scripture reading? If you guessed \u201cJoy to the World,\u201d you\u2019re right. This psalm talks about looking forward to Jesus\u2019 return: when He comes to judge the earth in righteousness, bringing justice for every wrong done and destroying sin and its effects (2 Peter 3:8-13; Revelation 21:1-8).\n\n\n\nOkay, here is your second pop quiz: Can you sing the first line of \u201cJoy to the World\u201d without looking at the words? \u201cJoy to the world / The Lord is come / Let earth receive her king.\u201d In fact, this Christmas carol was originally written about Jesus\u2019 return (or second coming) rather than His birth.\n\n\n\nBoth Jesus\u2019 birth and His return are cause for rejoicing and singing! When Jesus came as a baby, He created a way for us to be freed from sin and death so that we could be with God forever. This is because Jesus came to earth the first time to die on the cross for our sins. If we put our trust in what He did, we are freed from sin and death. Jesus\u2019 second coming is when He returns to dwell with His people forever.\n\n\n\nBut the second line of this carol is just as important as the first: \u201cLet every heart prepare Him room.\u201d Born that night in Bethlehem, Jesus came to prepare the hearts of His people to be in relationship with Him. Without Christ, our hearts long for the wrong things\u2014going after sin instead of the God we were made to serve.\n\n\n\nThis Christmas, if you haven\u2019t already, consider the Savior who offers to free every part of you\u2014including your heart\u2014from sin and death. Put your trust in the forgiveness He offers you through His death and resurrection. \u2022 Melissa Yeagle\n\n\n\n\u2022 How does Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection make it possible for us to be free from sin and death? Why is His return so important? (For more information, check out our "Know Jesus" page!.)\n\n\n\n\u2022 If you know Jesus, what are some ways He is freeing your heart from sin even now, through the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)?\n\n\n\nLet the rivers clap their hands in glee! Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness. Psalm 98:8-9 (NLT)