The Contagious Nature of Joy
Today’s Advent Bible Verses:
Luke 1:14 ESV
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth
Advent, a season of anticipation, heralds the fulfillment of God’s promises. In Luke 1:14, the angel announces to Zechariah that his son, John the Baptist, will bring joy and gladness to his family and many others. This joy transcends mere happiness and is rooted in the grand narrative of salvation. John’s life and mission paved the way for the arrival of Jesus, the world's Savior.
What captivates me here is the contagious nature of this joy. The birth of John is not an isolated moment of happiness; it radiates outward, impacting the lives of so many others. This is a poignant reminder of how God’s blessings in our lives are meant to spread. The joy of Advent is not meant to be kept to ourselves; it is to be shared with those around us, allowing the light of Christ to illuminate the darkness.
As Lutherans, we affirm that this joy originates not from our efforts but from the profound actions of God in Christ. God’s promise of redemption, fulfilled in Jesus, bestows us a genuine joy that sustains us even during challenging times. John’s birth marked the commencement of the culminating chapter of God’s redemptive plan—a cause for joy then and now.
Prayers
A Prayer for Today:
Gracious Father, I thank You for the gift of joy, a joy that comes from knowing Your promises are true. As Your children prepare to celebrate the birth of Your Son, fill our hearts with gladness and help us to share that joy with others. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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