The 3rd Sunday of Advent - 12/16/2012
This was a hard Sunday here in the US to think of Joy due to the tragedy in Newtown, CT which happend this past week. But the joy of the Lord is the strenght that comes in the peace and confort He has come to give. The joy is here and it is now. It is the reflections of Christ through His people into the lives of the hurting and greaving. We are called to reflect His light into a sinful dark world, through our love and help.
"9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:9,10
As the days draw close to Christmas the gift that was giving was a life, Jesus came into this earth to die. Through Christ's death, He gave us a way to win over this evil world. What Jesus brings is true joy and this way giving His all. As Christian we are called to give, not leftovers but from the top. When we give we reap what we sow in the joy that comes through investing into the lives of others.
Not only do the families in Newtown, CT need Christian to come a give confort and help, but all the hurting. We still have fanilies without homes in NJ and NY, the family that lost their child due to cancer, people who can't feed their children let alone give toys, children that do not have parents or ones that care, couples who can't have children . . . This is a time of year that gives is easy in many ways to others, people who at other times of the year may not tell people about their issues. But mostly it is a time in the year when people want to know who Jesus is and what does the Bible say about this evil in the world.
There are many,many times in the Bible, both old and new testaments about how evil the world is and that mankind has a free will to do what he pleases. Evil comes in many forms because the earth is "fallen" broken place. Not just mankind is fallen but the earth itself, with sickness and death, storms, and droughts.
We read in Ephesians, as belivers we are called to do battle with evil, and it is always with us on the earth.
"10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6
Remember the Joy is here. . .
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.
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
The Joy of the Lord by Twila Paris
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