JOY

JOY

READ:
Luke 2:8-12

I bring you good tidings of great
joy which will be to all people
Luke 2:10

After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, joy was lost.  God expelled them from their garden home to prevent something worse from happening.  If they had eaten from the tree of life after eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they would have lived forever in their misery.

Life outside the garden was not easy.  Adam and Eve had to work hard for their food.  The reality of death was everywhere, and animals preyed on one another.  Even worse, the couple's firstborn son murdered his younger brother.  What could be worse?  Sin had pierced their lives, and the couple could not stop joy from draining out.

But God had a plan to restore joy.  Joy was lost in the Garden when death came, but joy returned through birth-the birth of God's own Son.  "I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people" (Luke 2:10).  Jesus grew up to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and raise the dead.  But this was just a taste of things to come.  God entered our world, experienced our sorrow, and conquered death, giving us hope that He will keep His promise to end pain, and eliminate sorrow and death (John 11:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Revelations 21:4).  No wonder Christmas is the season of joy! - Julie Ackerman Link

Have you felt the joy of the shepherds,
Who were first to behold the sight
Of that holy Child of Mary,
On that wonderful Christmas night? - Brill
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The joy of Christmas is Jesus.

INSIGHT
The Mishnah, an ancient Jewish commentary of Scripture, tells us that shepherds tended flocks in the fields near Bethlehem to provide sacrificial lambs for the feast of Passover.  Shepherds were considered of lower social status.  The appearance of the angelic host to such "lowly" people indicates that God is no respecter of persons.  Neither wealth, social status, nor political power curries favor with the holy and sovereign God of the universe.  Can you imagine the awe and reference the shepherds must have felt when an angelic choir burst into song proclaiming:  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"? (v.14).  The great miracle of the incarnation was celebrated by praise in the heavenly places.

Have a blessed day and week ahead.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace