Joy is receiving the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Scripture Passage

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
-Luke 2:8‭-‬12

Message

As shepherds, they probably never expected they would become part of the most important birth announcement in the history of mankind. But they did! Of course they are frightened at first, but the angel tells them not to be afraid, and then he tells them the greatest news ever. Jesus Christ is born! (We should really make songs about this.)

They had to be overcome with Joy at the news. They left their flocks to see the baby! That is what God wants us to do also. We have to be willing to leave everything we know to get to Christ.

We are always so afraid that Christianity will change us from who we were, but that is exactly what it should do! We have to go from being shepherds tending sheep to being witnesses of the Messiah! We also have to be like the angel and spread the Joyful message of Christ to everyone.

Advent and Christmas are about what God did for us through Christ. We have to spread that Good News to the world.

Prayer

God,

Help us to be Your heralds. Help us to see the Messiah and to share His Joy with others. In His name.

Amen.