Leap for Joy
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Luke 1:44
At my former church we had a friend, Pastor Harley, who would visit and preach a few times a year. Pastor Harley had a deep, booming voice. When I was pregnant and Pastor Harley got up to preach, as soon as he spoke my babies would suddenly leap within my womb. In fact, with both pregnancies, listening to Pastor Harley preach was a rather uncomfortable experience because my babies danced a jig the entire time. No one else had this impact on them, but the same thing happened every single time he spoke. Something about his voice excited them greatly.
That's what happened in Elizabeth's womb too. Her baby, John the Baptist, heard Mary speak and he got so excited that he had to leap. Even in the womb he understood that she was carrying Messiah and he couldn't contain his excitement.
Oh, that we would be so excited about our Messiah! What if every time we heard the name Jesus we wanted to leap and dance and shout with joy? What if every time we opened the word of God to read his love letter to us we swooned and fell in love all over again? What if during this Christmas season we forgot all about the traditions of men and got majorly excited that our Saviour was born into the world?
Truly, the fact that Jesus was born into this world to take away our sin ought to make us as excited as cheerleaders at a pep rally. Yet, so often the enemy sets a trap to rob of us our joy. He fills our holiday schedule so we no longer have time to spend with the Lord. He hurries us to and fro trying to find the perfect gifts, all the while missing out on the one and only perfect gift. He deceives us into believing that all of this scurrying and activity is real worship and celebration when all the while it's just busyness that keeps us from really celebrating.
This year let's renew our excitement for Jesus. Because of Christmas, we have our Messiah, our Lord, our Savior. That's something to get excited about!
Pray: Father, as each day of the Christmas season comes, may our excitement swell and grow. May we be full to overflowing with love and joy on Christmas day as we celebrate the birth of our King.
Ponder: Let's determine that every time we hear someone speak or sing about Jesus this Christmas season we will get excited and rejoice. A little two-step might even be in order.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord... Luke 2:10-11
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
December 1, 2008
Christmas Devotion # 4
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4 comments:
Oh Bonita,
This is great! I will try and remember to get excited whenever I hear of Jesus birth! Great idea! :)
Sonya
Last night, I was thinking about the angels singing at His birth. I truly hadn't thought about what that must have sounded like to the shepherds. Shepherds quake at the sight! Yeah...quake!!
Prayers for our ears to be open in new ways as we await His coming!
I notoriously get caught up in the "need to dos" and the "have tos" at Christmas and sometimes the meaning takes a backseat.
I even almost skipped reading your blog today because I was rushing.
I'm so glad I took the time.
It's time for me to slow down and remember Christmas for what it is...Christ's birthday. Amen.
Bonita, I have to tell you these are some of the very best devotions I have read on any blog. I love the way you express these thoughts. My heart is so in tune to this. Thank you.
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