“This traffic is terrible!” my husband stated flatly. “I think we can turn right and bypass Main Street.”
“There’s a detour ahead,” I replied. “I’ve seen the signs the last few times I’ve driven up to visit.”
The traffic wasn’t surprising really. It was half past five and we were headed into the mountains, a nearly two hour drive, to meet our daughter’s family at their church for her boys’ Christmas program. Four year old Thomas had volunteered for a solo. He was singing Silent Night.
We arrived early. The sanctuary filled quickly with families. When the children took their places on stage, the entire front row, including Thomas, wiggled almost continuously. The older children in the back row mostly kept their composure. Each child assigned a part beamed with joy as they walked to the mic. A few hesitated, some whispered or giggled through their lines. One needed a little reassurance from his dad. Every instance served to reinforce rather than detracting from the message. Good news! Great joy!
When the glory of the Lord shown around them in the dark of night, the shepherds were absolutely terrified! Their senses were already on high alert. David attested to wild beasts attacking his flock, specifically a lion and a bear. (1 Samuel 17) Knowing what might lie just beyond sight in the darkness would have put the shepherds on edge already but an army of angels was beyond anything they could have imagined.
“but the angel reassured the shepherds. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.
The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”
Luke 2:10-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.2.10-11.NLT
“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem!
Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph.
And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,
The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.
It was just as the angel had told them.”
Luke 2:15-18, 20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.2.15-18.NLT
I have to wonder who drew the short straw and stayed with the sheep. How many stables were in Bethlehem? Did the younger ones say, “Race you!” like John’s account of outrunning Peter to Jesus’s tomb? In a sense, the shepherds were the first preachers. After seeing Him, they told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
The shepherds encountered joy unexpectedly. They recognized this gift as from God and they praised Him for it. God’s indescribable gift of His only Son was for the whole world. That is reason enough for rejoicing, but joy doesn’t always take our breath away. Sometimes it gradually takes the chill off like sitting in front of a warm fire at the end of a long day. Often it wedges itself in between endless days of the same old same old. Joy may tackle you like a toddler but you might also trip over it or trudge through it.
Jesus was a realist. He was the first to warn that in this world we would have troubles. He didn’t deny facts. Trials don’t take a holiday. Christmas doesn’t cancel the thing that you’re dealing with, the hurt you’re feeling, or that relationship that needs work. What He said was, “Take heart. Be encouraged. I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
“My brothers and sisters, you will face all kinds of trouble.
When you do, think of it as pure joy.
Your faith will be tested.
You know that when this happens it will produce in you the strength to continue.
And you must allow this strength to finish its work.
Then you will be all you should be.
You will have everything you need.”
James 1:2-4 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/jas.1.2-4.NIRV
Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. (Matthew 7:7) Your Heavenly Father longs to give good gifts to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:11) You will seek Him and find Him when you seek Him with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13) He will lavish His Holy Spirit on all who earnestly seek Him.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:
love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control.
There is no law against these things!
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
Galatians 5:22-23, 25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.5.22-25.NLT
Jesus said, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.
Remain in my love.
When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.
Yes, your joy will overflow!
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
John 15:9-12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.11-12.NLT
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
So be truly glad.
There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.
These trials will show that your faith is genuine.
It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.
So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
You love him even though you have never seen him.
Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control.
Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”
1 Peter 1:3-9, 13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.1.8-13.NLT
“Always be full of joy in the Lord.
I say it again—rejoice!
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4, 6-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.4.7.NLT
Shepherds found joy in what they had seen and heard on that first Christmas night and they praised God. As we gather to celebrate and remember our Savior’s birth, whether as families, congregations, or communities, may we rejoice in the Giver of every good and perfect gift, and praise God our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
Psalms 100:1-5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.100.1-5.NLT
Thomas sang out the message of the angels loud and clear, one arm around his mama’s neck, fingers fiddling in her hair. Timothy perched on our daughter’s knee, smiling and waving happily. Poppy and I watched with their dad from the aisle near the front and I’m sure all heaven was rejoicing. I know I was!
“He rules the world with Truth and Grace and makes the nations prove
the glories of His Righteousness and wonders of His Love.”
Joy to the World 2 (He is Come)
~Tommee Profitt Clark Beckham https://youtu.be/M5Da5lWVXNM?si=AEFjuhi_kX2hsDZJ
The Wait is Over
~Jordan st Cyr https://youtu.be/Zscu8GkokTE?si=OWaE72U4_NpjZxAY
A Fitting Reply 