WEEK THREE: The JOY OUR MESSIAH BRINGS
Ann Swindell
This week, as we move forward into the third week of Advent, our focus is on the joy that Christ brings to his people—both now and forevermore!
Today, start by reading Luke 2:1-14.
Christ is born in Bethlehem, the long-foretold place of the birth of the Messiah (see Micah 5:2), and the angels proclaim the birth of Jesus to shepherds in the nearby fields.
One angel speaks the news that Israel has been longing to hear for centuries:
“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.”
The “good news of great joy” that the angels sang about on the night of Christ’s birth is the same truth we declare today—that Christ is the Messiah, and that he is the Savior of his people!
But our Savior was born as an infant, and he would not complete his earthly purposes for over thirty years. Consider how much time passed! The shepherds who worshiped him in the manger may not have lived to see his death and resurrection all those years later.
There was a lot of waiting and hoping and trusting between the manger and the empty tomb.
The miracle that started at Christmas is one that took decades to fully unfold. The miracle that the Lord is working in your life may take decades to unfold, as well. So how do we have joy in Jesus when it seems like the work of God is moving slowly?
We do what the angels did on the night his birth was declared: we worship him! Along with them, we sing “Glory to God in the highest heaven!” (v. 14) and we turn our attention to Jesus, knowing that true joy comes in the Lord’s presence:
“You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” -Psalm 16:11
Today, take time to pray and ask the Lord to give you the long-term view of the work he is doing in your life. While it may not seem like anything extraordinary is happening today, we are in the middle of God's glorious work if we are walking with Christ—and that can fill our hearts with great joy as we trust in him!