Wednesday, December 20, 2023 - IS YOU JOY IN CHRIST SHOWING?

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Wednesday, December 20, 2023 - Day 354  - (Today’s Bible readings: Zechariah 9; Psalm 141; Revelation 16:1-21)

IS YOU JOY IN CHRIST SHOWING? 

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;

sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise!

Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!

So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.” (Psalm 66:1-3 ESV) 

The Psalmist encourages his readers to “shout for joy to God.” The reason for this joy are the awesome deeds of God. 

Many people are looking for joy, peace and happiness without Jesus. But Jesus is the only One whose awesome deeds involve the forgiveness of your sins and the promise of eternal life. And this gives you real, true, deep down joy.

Do not confuse Christian joy with mere happiness. Joy is far deeper and can be present even in the darkest of hours. Paul reflects this truth with these words first given to the Christians in Philippi: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”  (Philippians 8:3 ESV)

1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!  

        Let earth receive her King;      

Let every heart prepare Him room, 

        And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing, 

        And heaven and heaven and nature sing.

2. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!  

        Let men their songs employ,

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, 

        repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy, 

        repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3. No more let sins and sorrows grow 

        nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow 

        far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found, 

        far as, far as the curse is found.

4. He rules the world with truth and grace 

        and makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness 

        and wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love, 

        and wonders, wonders of His love.

Lord God, thank You for the joy of knowing Your mercy, forgiveness and promise of heaven! Please use me today to share the joy of Jesus with others today. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape