Finding Joy!
AKC is celebrating its 10th anniversary!! Kids Min is particularly busy with special events and pageants in addition to the whirlwind of weekly ministries, plus preparing for your own Christmas with family and friends! I find that intentionally pausing to reflect and anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth keeps me grounded in the reason for the season, and inevitably I experience joy! In keeping with the theme of joy for this devotional, let’s look into the biblical account of the birth of Christ, where moments of joy are recorded.
When Mary arrived to stay with her cousin Elizabeth, who was also miraculously pregnant with a son, Matthew 1:44 captures this moment: “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached My ears, the baby in my womb LEAPED FOR JOY.” Then Mary responded in a joy-filled song known as “The Magnificat” (Matthew 1:46-56).
Once Elizabeth’s and Zechariah’s miracle son was born, Zechariah, who had been unable to speak for months, was miraculously healed and broke out in a joy-filled song called ”The Benedictus,” celebrating the coming Saviour and God’s faithfulness to His people. (Matthew 1: 67-80)
When Jesus was born, the Angels declared the joyful message to the Shepherds in Luke 2:8-14: “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. Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Once the Shepherds encountered Jesus, they couldn’t keep the news to themselves; “they went throughout the streets and told everyone they had met! ...then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:17-20).
Divine appointments
Simeon’s divine appointment with Jesus, arranged by the Holy Spirit, resulted again in song: “Simeon took him in his arms and praised God”, (Luke 2: 25-35)
Anna’s divine meeting with baby Jesus is described in Luke 2:38 “Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
The wise men recognized when the star first appeared, it was a sign of the birth of the King of the Jews. They travelled for months, in search of this king, “ the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 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 worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” What an incredible moment!
From relatives to shepherds, from priests and prophets to foreign travellers, the birth of Jesus sparked joy in every kind of person who recognized what God was doing. After 400 years of prophetic silence, God broke through with the greatest announcement of all—Emmanuel, God with us. Joy followed every revelation of His presence.
Are you waiting for God to speak to you about something? Have things seemed dark, waiting for breakthrough? I encourage you to allow the hope of your salvation provided by the personal coming of Jesus to the earth, bring you joy this season. This is my prayer for you:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)