December 16th, 2020
Family Tree Devotional Series - Week 3 – Joy – Allison Hand
The Joy of Presence
Psalms 51:12, 14 (NIV)
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me... O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing your righteousness."
For many, this time of year is a favorite holiday season. People enjoy the merrymaking, the decorating of the house, filled with reds and greens, the singing of carols and attending parties, oh and the eating, lots of eating! But if we strip that pageantry away, no tree, no lights strung up on houses, no Santa and presents, just a lonely manger scene and advent candles to light, would that be enough? Would we still be filled with joy? Is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, enough to celebrate and sing songs of hope and love to Him?
God incarnate is THE reason to sing with joy to Him. To let our heart burst with joy that the King of the universe stepped off his mighty throne to humble himself and come to earth in pursuit of YOU, to be your Savior, to make way for you to be with Him forever. Joy to the world!
Do not get me wrong. I have a tree and lights up in my house, and on Christmas Day, we will open gifts. Unfortunately, Christmas can become a trap. The trap of the joy we receive from the traditional Christmas things each year. Instead, we should primarily focus on the joy that comes simply from Jesus. We need to focus our minds and hearts on the presence of our Savior.
Let me finish with a challenge. What can you do each day this season to make it more about Him rather than all the trimmings?
The Joy of Presence
Psalms 51:12, 14 (NIV)
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me... O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing your righteousness."
For many, this time of year is a favorite holiday season. People enjoy the merrymaking, the decorating of the house, filled with reds and greens, the singing of carols and attending parties, oh and the eating, lots of eating! But if we strip that pageantry away, no tree, no lights strung up on houses, no Santa and presents, just a lonely manger scene and advent candles to light, would that be enough? Would we still be filled with joy? Is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, enough to celebrate and sing songs of hope and love to Him?
God incarnate is THE reason to sing with joy to Him. To let our heart burst with joy that the King of the universe stepped off his mighty throne to humble himself and come to earth in pursuit of YOU, to be your Savior, to make way for you to be with Him forever. Joy to the world!
Do not get me wrong. I have a tree and lights up in my house, and on Christmas Day, we will open gifts. Unfortunately, Christmas can become a trap. The trap of the joy we receive from the traditional Christmas things each year. Instead, we should primarily focus on the joy that comes simply from Jesus. We need to focus our minds and hearts on the presence of our Savior.
Let me finish with a challenge. What can you do each day this season to make it more about Him rather than all the trimmings?
Posted in Family Tree Devos
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