GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY

  • December 21st, 2010 | Johnny Bragg | No Comments |

    Have you ever received good news? Not just spotting the up-close parking spot or finding back-to-back episodes of your favorite show, but life-changing good news. News that is received with big joy, that you know will change everything from that point on. I remember the day my wife said she felt kind of “funny.” Yep, nearly a year later we had our son. Good news! Everything changed from that point forward.  During this season as we celebrate the birth of our King, I am reminded of the angel from Luke 2, who appeared to the shepherds “staying out in the field and keeping watch.” The angel proclaimed, “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.” With the birth of Jesus, everything changed. The Savior came, and it was (and is!) great joy for everyone. Let me give you five encouragements from this passage.

    1. Christ is your good news. He was, is, and will forever be good news in your life. What a great joy we have to know Jesus.

    2. Christ is not a feeling. So much is made about the “spirit of Christmas,” a fuzzy feeling we get when Nat King Cole croons, when our tree twinkles, and when we shop shop shop. And while I love all the fun stuff we do (and eat!) during December, we cannot serve Jesus by how we feel. Galatians 3:11 encourages us that “the righteous will live by faith.” We serve our risen Savior because he is our King, not because of how we feel.

    3. Stay in your field. The shepherds met the glory of God as they went about their business, being faithful to their flock rather than heading into town (remember Bethlehem was packed with travelers that night, lots going on). Whatever you feel the Lord has given you to do, do it faithfully. Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”

    4. Wait for your suddenly. As you go about your Christian walk and calling, the Lord at times will suddenly appear. And while it may not be as dramatic as singing angels, the Holy Spirit will move in your life. It may be a nudge to serve Him more, a bit of wisdom for an upcoming decision, or a moment of release from something that has hindered you. See Acts 12 for another moment of suddenly.

    5. Receive His joy. The Kingdom is about Joy in the Lord. This Christmas season I encourage you to open the doors of your heart and received the King. It will be a moment that changes you forever, good news of great joy!


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