Christmas Joy
A major Advent theme is joy! This fruit of the Spirit is displayed throughout the scriptural account. See below for some great moments of joy that lead up to celebratory response of receiving and seeing the Christ-child. Merry Christmas!
And the Israelites who were in Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with instruments of much volume to the Lord. And the whole assembly took counsel to prolong the feast another seven days; and they kept it another seven days with joy. So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon son of David king of Israel there was nothing like this in Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 30:21, 23, and 26)
During the reign of King Jehosaphat, the LORD delivered Judah from a group of enemy nations. They celebrated and continued to celebrate with much joy and gladness. The victorious celebration was led by the religious leaders and was expressed very loudly and had not been done for some time—since Solomon. We, too, continue the joy with much expression when it comes to God sending His one and only Son. Perhaps it has been a while that you personally have truly expressed the joy of Christ for His love, salvation, and victory. Let’s celebrate Him with profound joy!
And the Israelites--the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles--celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. They kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria [referring to Darius king of Persia] to them, so that he strengthened their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. (Ezra 6:16, 21)
After 70 years of exile in Babylon, God has allowed and orchestrated a way for His people to return through the edict of King Darius. Now, back in their homeland promised by the LORD to Abraham, they celebrate in God’s house during the feast of remembering their earlier deliverance from Egypt with extreme joy as they clearly understood it was their God who had done it. Because of that truth, their joy provided great strength and endurance to rebuild the place of worship. How is God’s work being the source of joy and strength to you, your family, and church?
THE KING [David] shall joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence. [Gen_12:2] (Psalm 21:1, 6)
David understood and clearly communicated that it was His LORD and the relationship that he had been invited to know Him that brought forth a salvation that completely and radically changed his life and life direction. The benefits from God and His interruption of David’s life authored a lifestyle of joy and rejoicing because of yes, His blessing, but even more, His Person. Are you and I allowing the Christ, as Joy, be the game-changer of our daily life and perspective for living?
Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:8, 12)
Psalm 51 is David’s confession of wrong and guilt for his sins against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. One of the greatest consequences that took place was David’s absence of joy in his love relationship to the LORD. Yes, he had brought great tragedy upon their lives but the root of his wrong was against God. David’s heart-cry in confession and repentance was for the LORD to restore the joy that his body, mind, and spirit were missing. Is sin keeping the flow of joy from the LORD being a part of your life? Follow the biblical pattern that is highlighted through David…confess wrong and return to the relationship of love.
When they saw the star, they were thrilled with ecstatic joy. (Matthew 2:10)
The Magi had traveled far to get to Jerusalem and now to make their way to Bethlehem. This remarkable, extended journey all began, as these astrologer-astronomers, who studied the sky and its stars, determined the appearance of a new star was designated as the star of the King of the Jews. It was time to get up and go! Whatever was on their schedule would now be set aside—for quite a while—to locate this new King. After a ‘pit stop’ in Jerusalem they gained information that the birthplace of the Israel’s king was Bethlehem…in correlation to the Old Testament prophecy…God also caused the reappearance of their own general revelation source through creation to affirm the need to follow and get to Bethlehem. How is God using not only His Word but His creation and world to communicate His revelation and direction for your life? There is much to gain through observing God’s activity daily in our lives and circumstances.
But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. (Luke 2:10)
The joy of the first Christmas told to the shepherds, lives on! God sending Jesus, God incarnate, into His created world in human flesh was purposed for each and every person… “all the people.” That includes you! So, as the angels told the shepherds, let us listen to our Heavenly Father speak to our hearts and lives today, “Do not be afraid!” Yes, you may not be able to understand it all at this time but respond to the message with a love-obedience, like the shepherds, that will issue forth the realization that this overwhelming moment and announcement is indeed “good news of a great joy.” God stepped into your world and you are unsure…confused…afraid. Keep listening, there is a wonderful message of goodness that includes you that He wants to say into your life and future.
