Shout for Joy
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Psalm 100:1-2 NIV
Ok, so I have to admit I get a bit excited about Christmas. I enjoy decorating. I love to sing the songs about the birth of Jesus. I also exclaim over every gift opened no matter who received it. “Wow! How cool! I love it!”
To my surprise, last year, my grandson did not appreciate my exuberance. He kept reminding me to use my inside voice. He also asked for no more wows. No more wows! How could there not be any wows at Christmas?
The good news of Jesus’s birth rang through the night sky from the angels to the shepherds. “Glory to God in the highest…” Luke 2:14
I cannot imagine a host of angels quietly singing about the birth of the long-awaited Savior. I bet the shepherds almost had to cover their ears from the jubilation.
After the shepherds went to the manger and saw the baby for themselves, they too praised God and told others of their experience. I have to think they did so with much emotion and exhilaration. I doubt they had any timidity at all.
Recorded in the book of Luke, it states when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple as a baby, Simeon held him and praised God for him. Anna, a prophet who lived in the temple, did as well. What delight they must have felt at the privilege of getting to see the Promised One.
Jesus’s birth brought such cause for rejoicing as it led to our Salvation. God’s Son came down in the flesh. Let us shout for joy at the good news of God’s grace and mercy. May we never forget the true gift we celebrate at Christmas. Wow!
Apologies to my grandson if we do not use our ‘inside voices.”
God, we acknowledge you as the Ultimate Gift Giver. We worship your holy powerful name.
Susan Partida
