Third Sunday of Advent: Audacious Joy

Read: Luke 2:1-21

Devotional:

How far are you willing to go to find joy?

This question might seem odd to you. After all, doesn’t everyone want joy? Wouldn’t they be willing to do anything to feel it? I believe we crave it in our hearts, but we aren’t always willing to do what it takes to experience true, audacious joy. Joy that requires risks and boldness and breaking free from so many things that try to snatch our joy.

Joy can be shown in a variety of ways. For the shepherds, it meant shouting through the streets and sharing this good news with everyone they could reach. For Mary, it was more reflective and contemplative, pondering this goodness until it overflowed within her. But their joy is united in its source: Jesus.

The reason why joy can be difficult to hold onto, especially when we are unaware of the intentionality we must take in our relationship with joy, is that it requires us to fix our eyes on Jesus. Everything that steals our joy is a result of focusing on other things.

For example, fear often causes us to not fully appreciate our blessings because we are already anticipating our next problem. It prevents us from living in the moment and being at peace. Comparison is another thief of joy. It stirs within us self-doubt, jealousy, and bitterness towards others, building walls in our precious relationships. Self-sufficiency which stems from our pride causes us to burden ourselves with more than we can bear. It causes us to distance ourselves from others who want to love us, including Jesus.

The list of joy-stealers could go on and on. Perhaps you can think of a few examples of your own. The point is this: Joy is like a plant. It requires nurturing and tenderness and care. When we care for it, we are able to share its beauty with those around us. But when we neglect spending time with Jesus, resting in Him and giving Him our burdens, we wither and fade.

Prioritizing joy is an act of boldness and bravery. It takes trust in acting on what God tells us, as the shepherds demonstrated by searching out Jesus after receiving their message from the angels. It also takes humility and trust when we take the time to reflect, as Mary did, on all that God has done for us. When we remember how much He loves us, we can have joy right now, no matter our circumstances or all that lies ahead.

Questions:

• Recall a time when you experienced remarkable joy. What caused that joy?
• What has been siphoning your joy this season?
• What is one proactive step you can take to prioritize joy and set your eyes on Jesus?
• Who is someone in your life who could benefit from experiencing Jesus’ joy in you?
• How can you show it to them this Christmas?

Sing:

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Away in a Manger

Light of the World (My personal favorite Christmas song!)