Luke 2:8-20 SAYS, That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you the most joyful news ever announced and it is for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger!" Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God: "Glory to God in highest heaven,” they sang, “and peace on earth for all those pleasing him." When this great army of angels had returned again to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story expressed astonishment, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them. Then the shepherds went back again to their fields and flocks, praising God for the visit of the angels, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had told them. LIV
Mathew 2:10 says, “When the wise men saw the star, they were overjoyed.” NIV
Can you imagine the joyful anticipation of the angels to bring the good news of great joy to the world? Or the joyful anticipation of the shepherds as they ran to the stable to find the Christ child? Or the joyful anticipation of the wise men as they followed the star to find the new born king? The incarnation of God, the Christmas event was JOY-FILLED. When, by faith, Jesus is born in us, it is the most joyful thing that can happen in life. How do you experience or exhibit the joy of Christ?
I have known joy since Monday night, November 4, 1974, the night Jesus became real to me! That is true joiy and has never left left me! I praise God for the presence of joy and the presents of joy to share with others, even Jesus our savior!
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