Have you ever been so overjoyed that your eyes sweat? I’m not talking about laughing so hard that the tears flow but rather so completely overjoyed and you can’t explain to those around you the reason for it. As the overwhelming joy completely encompasses, others come to understand and also succumb to the emotional overload. Have you ever lived through such a time of indescribable joy? If you have, can you fully explain the emotions you went through at the time?
The day my son was born, I was completely overcome with emotion, and I will admit this, I cried profusely with joy when I heard him cry out for the first time. Moments later, they placed a beautiful boy wrapped in a receiving blanket into my arms and said, “here you go daddy”. I do not remember a single thing after that, but I can recall seeing him, through tears, his wonderful face looking up at me. In one moment, life changed completely for the best. This is only one example of what I would consider unfathomable joy.
Consider this. A group of shepherds in a field, another day another few baubles to keep food on the table. The only hope they had was a chance to be employed and warm for the upcoming winter and to maintain their cleanliness, so they did not find themselves on the outside looking in. Suddenly an angel came to them, lowly shepherds, to proclaim the birth of the King of kings, their long sought-after Saviour.
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:8-15
Can I ask this question; when the shepherds came to fully realize the magnificence of this announcement, did they fall to their knees, overcome with the joy to the point of tears? Were they speechless and so filled with awe that they could not contain the best news to just themselves? When you heard the fabulous news that you were forgiven, that in Christ you are saved and through Him you will know glory, were you overcome with joy? Do you still feel that way and celebrate it daily?
This Sunday, Pastor Todd will explore the joy of the birth of Christ and the anticipation as it was first reported hundreds of years before. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship
YouTube Live – You Tube
We look forward to seeing you this Sunday.
Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”
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