Advent joy - Day 8
Do you ever wonder about the Joy to the World being in the Christmas Season so much? Do you know that Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets? Then you should know that the Old Testament leads you to the new in the New Testament.
Years ago when I was just completed with my acceptance that Christ was Lord, I did not have a full Bible. I was still at the the point of believing the Gideon's Bible I had inherited from my mother's childhood, was the truth. I figured that Jesus was real but I wasn't sure the Bible was just a book. Then eventually I realized it told me all about Jesus. So I decided it was real. But I was not sure if the Old Testament was the truth. I purchased a full on Bible and read every day, for one hour a day and two hours on Sunday. During this time I was amazed to realize that the stories in the first half of the Bible talked about the second half of the Bible. In this I realized my truth, that the Word of God was indeed the Bible!
Oh the joy that I felt when I accepted that God had inspired this full book and that it had lasted a lifetime, many lifetimes! The joy we receive when we truely believe is unimaginable and amazing! That is the joy that the angels sang about with peace and good will toward men for the Shepherds that were watching thier flocks that night that Jesus was born.
Today look for the joy in the little things like a hot cup of coffee or cocoa with marshmallows. A smile from a stranger can bring such joy to peoples heart that I wish they could see my smile through the masks they make us wear. Joy is unspeakable though when it comes from the Lord, so lets make that our challenge! Spread joy today! Find a way! In Jesus' name!
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalms 51:8-12