This post is the first in a series of studies about “Joy”.
Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today. (The form is at the bottom of the page).
Joy – Day 1
This month we are thinking about joy. A sentiment usually connected with this season. These shepherds who were just doing their regular work were not immediately joyful at seeing an angel! For many of us, anything out of the ordinary fills us with fear. The same happened to these shepherds.
Luke 2:8-10
There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks, by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.”
The Thought
A well known Christmas verse to begin this month thinking about joy. A sentiment usually connected with this season. These shepherds who were just doing their regular work were not immediately joyful at seeing an angel! For many of us, anything out of the ordinary fills us with fear. That is what happened to these shepherds.
I can imagine that they had spent many ordinary nights watching the sheep, and keeping their eyes open for danger, and this night was no different until the heavenly messenger arrived. Suddenly they were wide awake and afraid.
Why would the angel appear to them? They had no idea! Still today, God gives His messages to some of the most unlikely people.
These shepherds didn’t have too much time to think about this one angel, because suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared (verse 13).
Action
Ask yourself today if the Christmas season is one of joy for you. Is it a lonely time because this year has been hard, and someone you love has left the earth?
Does the way you spend Christmas remind you of joyful seasons in your childhood?
What emotions leap into your mind at the thought of Christmas? Happiness? Sadness? Worry about expense? Frustration about choice of gifts? Joy that the Saviour of the world came to earth to live?
Give your emotions to the Lord and ask Him to fill you with supernatural joy.
Read Luke 2 and be blessed by the story of that first Christmas.
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EN 
FR
What a great thought today’s message conveys and it’s good to remind ourselves where our faith is rooted
Thanks Stuart for your encouragement. I am always personally encouraged by what the Lord reveals as I prepare these studies. Right now I am preparing the month of January on HOPE. The world has need of the hope that we have in Jesus. As He reveals Himself to more and more, we will see great changes in the coming months and years.
Blessings
A
This scene is all the more remarkable given that in their contemporary culture most shepherds would have been at the bottom of the scale. In view of this it can be
noted that “great David’s greater son was keeping sheep when Samuel came to identify him!
Thanks Sheila for your encouragement. I love the way the Old and New Testaments are linked. God has never changed His story, and it is exciting for each of us to have a part in.
Blessings
A