Good Tidings of Great Joy
In my last post, I talked about how we can prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus and all the other promises God has given us. Jesus was promised via words given to the prophets of the Old Testament.
Jesus came to us as good tidings of great joy per the angel in Luke 2:10 that the shepherds saw. They were afraid when the angel first appeared. I’m not sure what I would have thought if I saw an angel late at night while out in the fields with a flock. However, I am sure they were prepared because of knowing God and the words of the prophets. Otherwise, they may have never felt compelled to go see this baby lying in a manger who was part of a great joy. A joy so great that angels fell out of heaven proclaiming it.
In February, I wrote about Joy in the Dark. I only have it because of knowing Jesus. Everything the world offers is based on what happens. If it’s good, we are happy. If it is bad, we are sad, angry, discontent. There is no sustainable joy to be found outside of the acceptance of Jesus. At least, I haven’t found it elsewhere and I’m glad I found it with Jesus when I did.
Joy comes from the Lord and gives us strength. Nehemiah knew this. Galatians 5:22-25 is a list of the fruits of the Spirit and one of them is joy. So joy does not come from what we can do. It does not come from the world. It comes from knowing Jesus Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit. If you trust Jesus, you will be filled with joy to the point it can overflow to those around you. It can make others ask about how you can have it in this dark and turbulent world.
I’m thankful and glad God had a plan for redemption, even if much of it boggles the intellect of the world. I’m thankful that anyone alive and breathing has the chance to learn about Him and have the chance at a relationship of reconciliation with Him. I can’t explain it, but He showed me who He truly was one weekend in February 2002 and I haven’t stopped following Him since. He understands the human condition. He knows we have good and bad days. As I write this, I am not having a good day, but deep down, His joy is there.
Next Monday, we will celebrate Christmas. Let’s remember that the baby in the manger is a Lord and King sent by a loving God. He is the true light of the world. He is a great joy that makes angels fall out of heaven in their exuberance at announcing His birth. He defies most human logic in how He uses love to overcome the world, but still must conquer sin once and for all upon His return.
Life is guaranteed to have its trials and tribulations, or Jesus would have said otherwise. However, when we walk with Jesus, we are joining with the one that can overcome it all. Never give up on the promises He has given you and those around you. They will come true and in the meantime we have a deep indwelling joy, which nothing can take away, to see us through to the birth of those promises.