Wednesday - Spreading Joy
WEEK THREE - JOY
By Alexandra Philippi • Abiding Life
Spreading Joy
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Luke 2:15-20
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The shepherds had just been surprised by a multitude of angels announcing the birth of Jesus. Their immediate response was: “Let’s go!” The invitation and announcement required action from these humble, lowly shepherds. They could have simply said, “Wow! That was beautiful,” and moved on—but they didn’t.
They went to Bethlehem to behold the King, to see the Rhema of God, the true Word of God revealed, and to bring His joy and salvation to all. They sought the Lord and found Him lying in a manger.
Verse 17 shows us the shepherds making their own announcements and invitations. Compelled by all they had heard and seen concerning Jesus, they shared the good news with anyone who would listen. Both the shepherds and Mary had hearts filled with joy and adoration for Jesus. Those who heard the good news marveled. Mary’s response began with treasuring all that had happened in her heart and pondering it. The shepherds couldn’t stop glorifying and praising the Lord—for the Joy of the World had come.
This past year, I was fighting for joy and felt weary and burned out. I asked the Lord to “renew a right spirit in me.” He revealed that I had a beholding issue—I had stopped listening to the Holy Spirit’s invitation in my heart to come and see- to behold King Jesus’ beauty. Instead, I had been focused only on doing all the things.
I began reading the Psalms just to meet with Him, pondering one passage—or some days, just one verse. Fasting and corporate prayer stirred my heart again. Gratitude filled my heart, duty was lifted, and songs of praise returned to my lips. Miracles began to happen: a Muslim friend chose to follow Jesus and be baptized, revelation in the Word returned, guidance by the Spirit resumed—and JOY returned.
The Lord calls us to behold His beauty like the shepherds: to stop, gaze upon Him, and abide in Him so we can intimately know Him. When we look to Jesus, delight in Him, and seek His Kingdom above all, glorious praise erupts from our souls to the Only One worthy to fulfill all that was foretold.
“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Let us go! May His joy pour from you today so that it overflows into the lives of your family, neighbors, friends, and community.
PRAYER:
Jesus, hallowed be Your Name. You are the Indwelling Word, God in flesh. Help us to behold Your beauty today, to see and know You as Your Word says. You are our source of joy—may the joy of our salvation return to us so we can invite many into Your Kingdom. You are the Joy of the World. Amen.
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Abiding Life is a group of house churches who love the Lord with all our
heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves. We
long to see churches planted among unreached people groups in Clarkston
through disciples making disciples. Our family labors, serves, and deeply
loves the Muslim refugee community.
PLEASE PRAY:
• That our family would delight in JESUS- He is Worthy of it all
• For more laborers to come into the harvest
• For more Muslim Background Believers to go into the community
• That we can disciple our MBB friends well
SERVE:
Come to Clarkston! We’d love to host you and your family. We host teams as a church- sharing tools on how to share the gospel cross culturally, prayer walking densely populated apartment complexes, visiting temples and mosques to see the darkness and to be the light. Gospel sharing and potentially a home visit with a refugee friend- if the Lord wills. Thank you for giving and loving our KING. We couldn’t do this without you!
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