December 19, 2023 • 7 mins
Episode Title: Christmas Calls Us to Joy (Luke 2:10)
Key Points:
- Christmas is a celebration of great joy, not just for a select few, but for all people.
- This joy comes from knowing God and experiencing His love and grace.
- The birth of Jesus signifies a new era of hope and redemption for humanity.
- Joy is woven throughout the Christmas story: in Mary's Magnificat, the shepherds' reflection, the wise men's offering, and more.
- We can cultivate and share the joy of Christmas by:
- Reflecting on the blessings in our lives, both big and small.
- Spending time with loved ones and expressing our gratitude for them.
- Practicing acts of kindness and generosity.
- Sharing the story of Jesus and the message of hope with others.
Call to Action:
- Seek out joy and share it with others.
- Create a ripple effect of positivity and bring the true spirit of Christmas to life.
- Remember, true joy is found not in material possessions, but in the love of God and the hope He offers through Jesus Christ.
Links:
Join us on this faith-filled journey, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram and visit our website for more inspiration and resources:
🌐 [Website] www.walkinginhisword.com
📷 [Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/walkinginhiswordpodcast
📷 [Facebook] https://www.facebook.com/walkinginhiswordpodcast
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
Greetings, friends.
Welcome back to Walking In His Word.
I'm your host Jason Gohl
and I'm so grateful you've joined me.
As we dive into the depths of Scripture,
discovering his timeless wisdom
and applying his teaching
to our daily lives.
Over the next week,
we'll embark on a special journey
leading up to Christmas Day.
Before we begin today's episode,
I'd like to invite you to subscribe
to the podcast
wherever you listen and share
the joy with family and friends.
(00:23):
You can also join our online community
at Walking in his workshop.
So sit back and relax
as we dive into the special
meaning of Christmas.
And let's keep walking
in his word together.
Today,
we continue our journey
towards Christmas with a reflection
on the powerful message
from the angel to the shepherds.
And that is joy.
So let's open
our hearts to the hope
and happiness that this season brings.
(00:43):
And remember the works of Luke
Chapter two, verse ten, which says,
The Angels surrender them.
Fear not for behold.
I bring you tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.
The Angels message to the shepherds
wasn't just any good news.
It was a message of great joy.
This great joy wasn't meant
(01:03):
for just a select few either.
It was meant for all people.
This joy that the angels
referring to surpasses earthly
pleasures
and temporary
happiness is a deep seated,
unshakable joy that comes from knowing
God and experiencing His love and grace.
The birth of Jesus,
who is the Son of God,
signifies a new era of hope
(01:25):
and redemption for humanity.
And this event brought joy
not just for the present,
but for all of eternity.
The idea of joy is woven throughout
the Christmas story.
Mary's song of praise,
often called the Magnificat,
Overflows with joy and Thanksgiving.
Let's read some of it
from Luke Chapter one verses 46 to 55,
(01:46):
Mary said,
My soul magnifies
the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God
my Savior
for his little time,
the humble state of his servant.
For behold,
from now on
all generations will call me blessed,
for he
who is
mighty, has done
great things for me,
and Holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
(02:06):
from generation to generation.
He has shown me strength with his armies
scattered the proud
with the thoughts of their hearts,
He has brought down the mighty
from their thrones and exalted
those of humble.
A state is filled
the hungry with good things and the rich.
He has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham
(02:28):
and to his offspring forever.
This Magnificat
is an overwhelming expectation
of the joy that Mary had in her heart,
knowing that she was bringing forth
the savior of all mankind as she reflects
on the great things
that God has done for her
and for His people,
She says, Holy is His name.
(02:49):
My soul magnifies him.
He has shown his strength.
He is brought down the mighty
and exalted those of humble estate.
He fills the hungry
and he sets the captives free.
What an amazing story
and reflection of joy.
But there's many others.
Let's look at Luke
chapter two in verse 20.
(03:09):
These are the shepherds
reflecting after
they've received the message
that Christ has been born.
The shepherds
Luke, Chapter two, verse 20 returned,
glorifying, praising God for all they had
heard and seen as it had
been told to them.
This is after
the shepherds had witnessed
that that mighty thing,
that mighty
saying from the angels
(03:30):
glory to God in the highest.
And they went with haste.
It found him, Mary and Joseph,
so that they can experience
the birth of God with us.
Emmanuel
The wise men offer their gifts
gold, frankincense and myrrh
filled with great joy.
I'm finding the new word king
And we find that in Matthew chapter
two and verse ten,
when they saw the star,
(03:51):
they rejoiced exceedingly so.
Joy wasn't just a simple,
fleeting emotion.
It was a deep conviction
that God had intervened
in human history and offered salvation
through his son, Jesus Christ.
Mary knew it
as she was
overwhelmed with joy
being able to bring forth the Savior.
The shepherds experienced it
(04:12):
and overflowed with joy.
And even the wise men,
as they were offering
their gifts, were filled
with great joy
at finding with newborn king.
In today's world,
we often face challenges,
anxieties and uncertainties,
and it's easy
to lose sight of joy amidst the pressures
and burdens of life.
Believe me, folks,
I've been through this myself.
There's often times
when you go through a struggle in life
(04:33):
and you feel,
I don't know how I can rejoice
in any of this, but Christmas reminds us
that regardless of our circumstances,
we can still experience true joy.
God with us.
Glory to God
in the highest tidings of great joy.
This joy comes from
knowing that we are loved.
We are cherished by God.
(04:54):
He gave his only son
that whoever believes in him
would not perish
but have everlasting life.
That's a reason for joy.
We may not always feel joyful,
but focusing
on the good news of Christmas
and the hope it brings
can cultivate a deeper
sense of joy
that transcends
even the most difficult situations.
So here are some practical ways
(05:14):
to cultivate
and share the joy of Christmas.
First, reflect
on the blessings in your life,
both big and small.
Many times
people go through an exercise
at the end of the year
of looking back on what they've done
throughout the year and accomplished,
and then they set goals
as they go into the new year.
But you can use this same opportunity
to look back at all
the things that God has blessed us
(05:36):
throughout your life, both big and small.
Another way
is to spend time with loved ones
and express your gratitude
for their presence.
Often times families
gather together
around the Christmas season
and they spend time with each other,
you know, around a meal or out to a tree
or gift giving or what have you.
Just take time as you're
gathering with your friends
(05:57):
and family to express gratitude to them
for what they've been to your life.
A good friend
can go a long way in this life.
We should practice
acts of kindness and generosity
and share the story of Jesus
and the message of hope with others.
That's the next takeaway.
Share the story of Jesus with others.
It's a great opportunity.
You can have many people
(06:18):
excited to participate in Christmas
and you can always take the opportunity
to share the story of Jesus
and that message of hope
with others, with them.
By actively seeking out joy
and sharing it with others,
we can create
a ripple effect of positivity
and bring the true
spirit of Christmas to life.
So as we continue our journey towards
Christmas,
let the message of this angel
(06:39):
resonate in our hearts. Fear not.
For I bring you tidings of great joy.
So make this joy
fill your hearts and homes
and made extend to all those around you.
And remember, true
joy is found
not in material possessions
or temporary pleasures,
but in the love of God
and the hope He offers through his Son.
Jesus Christ.
(06:59):
Thank you for joining us.
I'm walking in his word.
As we celebrate the holidays together,
we have a lessons
learned and stories shared
inspire you
to spread joy, peace
and love throughout this holiday season
and beyond.
Remember, the spirit of giving
doesn't have to end with the holidays.
You can connect with us online
and walk them in his word
that com to share your experiences
and to continue to walk in his word
(07:20):
with others.
So until next time, may God bless you
and fill your holidays
with happiness and love and
keep walking in his word.
Greetings, friends.
Welcome back to Walking In His Word.
I'm your host Jason Gohl
and I'm so grateful you've joined me.
As we dive into the depths of Scripture,
discovering his timeless wisdom
and applying his teaching
to our daily lives.
Over the next week,
we'll embark on a special journey
leading up to Christmas Day.
Before we begin today's episode,
I'd like to invite you to subscribe
to the podcast
wherever you listen and share
the joy with family and friends.
(00:23):
You can also join our online community
at Walking in his workshop.
So sit back and relax
as we dive into the special
meaning of Christmas.
And let's keep walking
in his word together.
Today,
we continue our journey
towards Christmas with a reflection
on the powerful message
from the angel to the shepherds.
And that is joy.
So let's open
our hearts to the hope
and happiness that this season brings.
(00:43):
And remember the works of Luke
Chapter two, verse ten, which says,
The Angels surrender them.
Fear not for behold.
I bring you tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.
The Angels message to the shepherds
wasn't just any good news.
It was a message of great joy.
This great joy wasn't meant
(01:03):
for just a select few either.
It was meant for all people.
This joy that the angels
referring to surpasses earthly
pleasures
and temporary
happiness is a deep seated,
unshakable joy that comes from knowing
God and experiencing His love and grace.
The birth of Jesus,
who is the Son of God,
signifies a new era of hope
(01:25):
and redemption for humanity.
And this event brought joy
not just for the present,
but for all of eternity.
The idea of joy is woven throughout
the Christmas story.
Mary's song of praise,
often called the Magnificat,
Overflows with joy and Thanksgiving.
Let's read some of it
from Luke Chapter one verses 46 to 55,
(01:46):
Mary said,
My soul magnifies
the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God
my Savior
for his little time,
the humble state of his servant.
For behold,
from now on
all generations will call me blessed,
for he
who is
mighty, has done
great things for me,
and Holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
(02:06):
from generation to generation.
He has shown me strength with his armies
scattered the proud
with the thoughts of their hearts,
He has brought down the mighty
from their thrones and exalted
those of humble.
A state is filled
the hungry with good things and the rich.
He has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham
(02:28):
and to his offspring forever.
This Magnificat
is an overwhelming expectation
of the joy that Mary had in her heart,
knowing that she was bringing forth
the savior of all mankind as she reflects
on the great things
that God has done for her
and for His people,
She says, Holy is His name.
(02:49):
My soul magnifies him.
He has shown his strength.
He is brought down the mighty
and exalted those of humble estate.
He fills the hungry
and he sets the captives free.
What an amazing story
and reflection of joy.
But there's many others.
Let's look at Luke
chapter two in verse 20.
(03:09):
These are the shepherds
reflecting after
they've received the message
that Christ has been born.
The shepherds
Luke, Chapter two, verse 20 returned,
glorifying, praising God for all they had
heard and seen as it had
been told to them.
This is after
the shepherds had witnessed
that that mighty thing,
that mighty
saying from the angels
(03:30):
glory to God in the highest.
And they went with haste.
It found him, Mary and Joseph,
so that they can experience
the birth of God with us.
Emmanuel
The wise men offer their gifts
gold, frankincense and myrrh
filled with great joy.
I'm finding the new word king
And we find that in Matthew chapter
two and verse ten,
when they saw the star,
(03:51):
they rejoiced exceedingly so.
Joy wasn't just a simple,
fleeting emotion.
It was a deep conviction
that God had intervened
in human history and offered salvation
through his son, Jesus Christ.
Mary knew it
as she was
overwhelmed with joy
being able to bring forth the Savior.
The shepherds experienced it
(04:12):
and overflowed with joy.
And even the wise men,
as they were offering
their gifts, were filled
with great joy
at finding with newborn king.
In today's world,
we often face challenges,
anxieties and uncertainties,
and it's easy
to lose sight of joy amidst the pressures
and burdens of life.
Believe me, folks,
I've been through this myself.
There's often times
when you go through a struggle in life
(04:33):
and you feel,
I don't know how I can rejoice
in any of this, but Christmas reminds us
that regardless of our circumstances,
we can still experience true joy.
God with us.
Glory to God
in the highest tidings of great joy.
This joy comes from
knowing that we are loved.
We are cherished by God.
(04:54):
He gave his only son
that whoever believes in him
would not perish
but have everlasting life.
That's a reason for joy.
We may not always feel joyful,
but focusing
on the good news of Christmas
and the hope it brings
can cultivate a deeper
sense of joy
that transcends
even the most difficult situations.
So here are some practical ways
(05:14):
to cultivate
and share the joy of Christmas.
First, reflect
on the blessings in your life,
both big and small.
Many times
people go through an exercise
at the end of the year
of looking back on what they've done
throughout the year and accomplished,
and then they set goals
as they go into the new year.
But you can use this same opportunity
to look back at all
the things that God has blessed us
(05:36):
throughout your life, both big and small.
Another way
is to spend time with loved ones
and express your gratitude
for their presence.
Often times families
gather together
around the Christmas season
and they spend time with each other,
you know, around a meal or out to a tree
or gift giving or what have you.
Just take time as you're
gathering with your friends
(05:57):
and family to express gratitude to them
for what they've been to your life.
A good friend
can go a long way in this life.
We should practice
acts of kindness and generosity
and share the story of Jesus
and the message of hope with others.
That's the next takeaway.
Share the story of Jesus with others.
It's a great opportunity.
You can have many people
(06:18):
excited to participate in Christmas
and you can always take the opportunity
to share the story of Jesus
and that message of hope
with others, with them.
By actively seeking out joy
and sharing it with others,
we can create
a ripple effect of positivity
and bring the true
spirit of Christmas to life.
So as we continue our journey towards
Christmas,
let the message of this angel
(06:39):
resonate in our hearts. Fear not.
For I bring you tidings of great joy.
So make this joy
fill your hearts and homes
and made extend to all those around you.
And remember, true
joy is found
not in material possessions
or temporary pleasures,
but in the love of God
and the hope He offers through his Son.
Jesus Christ.
(06:59):
Thank you for joining us.
I'm walking in his word.
As we celebrate the holidays together,
we have a lessons
learned and stories shared
inspire you
to spread joy, peace
and love throughout this holiday season
and beyond.
Remember, the spirit of giving
doesn't have to end with the holidays.
You can connect with us online
and walk them in his word
that com to share your experiences
and to continue to walk in his word
(07:20):
with others.
So until next time, may God bless you
and fill your holidays
with happiness and love and
keep walking in his word.
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