Today is the third Sunday in Advent. This week's Advent theme and today's word is joy.
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."
Luke 2:8-10
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."
Luke 2:8-10
I love the image that this scene in Matthew's gospel brings to mind. Shepherds doing their nightly job of tending the sheep, when suddenly the sky is bright as daylight as God's glory shines and His angel appears. I imagine their great surprise and then immediate fear. But the angel of the Lord reassures them: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."
During Advent we celebrate with joy Christ’s first
coming – His
coming in the flesh to walk and live among us. During Advent we also look
forward with joy anticipating Christ’s second coming, “looking forward
to [the
promised] new heaven and new earth, the home of righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13)
“ADVENT IS A JOURNEY TO JOY, BUT IT
IS NOT WE WHO ARE TRAVELING. JOY IS COMING TO US.”
JOHN PIPER
JOHN PIPER
At Christmas we are reminded that joy has come to us in human form. Joy
has come to us to be our salvation, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he
will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) We join with those who witnessed His first arrival. We
respond with joy as they did:
Mary’s response to having been chosen to bear God’s child: “And Mary said: “My
soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” Luke 1:46-47
The Magi: “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the
house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and
worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of
gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11
The Angels: “The
angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause
great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born
to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find
a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company
of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor
rests.” Luke 2:10-14
“GOOD NEWS THAT WILL CAUSE GREAT JOY
FOR ALL THE PEOPLE"”
A Savior has been born! Jesus, the one who would save people from their
sins has come to earth. Emmanuel has come – God is with us. This is the Good News we still celebrate! Joy is at the heart of the life of the Christ-follower, for joy is our
response to God’s gracious gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.
"Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return.They will enter Jerusalem singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
and they will be filled with joy and gladness."
Isaiah 35:10 (NLT)
This week allow the journey
of Advent to remind you of your joy in God’s gifts of grace, love and salvation
given us through His Son Jesus Christ. And anticipate the joy we have to look
forward to when He comes again.
My journal pages today:
The Advent Words 2017 prompts and Scripture reading calendar can be found in this post or in the Facebook group.
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