Embracing Joy: The Call to Serve and Believe

Devotional

Day 1: Welcoming and Nurturing the Vulnerable

The Gospel emphasizes the importance of welcoming and nurturing children in faith, as highlighted by Jesus' words about the severe consequences for those who hinder them. Serving the vulnerable, especially children, is a reflection of the heart of the Gospel and brings great joy and fulfillment. This call to serve is not just about physical care but also about spiritual nurturing, ensuring that the innocent and defenseless are brought into the presence of Christ. The joy found in serving others, particularly the vulnerable, is a testament to the transformative power of love and compassion. [01:24]

Matthew 18:5-6 (ESV): "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

Reflection: Who in your life is vulnerable and in need of nurturing? How can you actively welcome and support them in their faith journey today?

Day 2: The Transformative Joy of the Gospel

The Gospel is a profound source of joy, rooted in the promise of redemption through Christ. This joy is not merely an emotion but a transformative truth that aligns with our deepest needs and life experiences. It is the good news that changes lives, much like the personal milestones we cherish. The joy of the Gospel is a reflection of the ultimate good news of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection, offering hope and fulfillment beyond our understanding. [02:37]

1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV): "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to experience the transformative joy of the Gospel? How can you invite Christ into that area today?

Day 3: The Power of God's Revelation

The story of the shepherds in Luke 2 highlights the power of God's revelation to transform lives, regardless of social status or background. Despite their humble status and the prejudices they faced, the shepherds received the angelic message of great joy and responded with faith and obedience. Their story is a testament to the transformative power of God's revelation, which is available to all. This narrative encourages us to be open to God's messages and to respond with faith, knowing that His revelation can change our lives. [10:50]

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."

Reflection: How can you position yourself to be more receptive to God's revelation in your life? What steps can you take to respond with faith and obedience?

Day 4: Reverent Awe and Wisdom

The fear of God is a reverent awe that leads to wisdom and understanding. It is not about being afraid but about recognizing God's majesty and responding with humility and faith. The angels' message of "fear not" reassures us that the Savior's birth brings peace and joy to all who believe. This reverent awe is a foundation for a deeper relationship with God, guiding us to live in wisdom and understanding. [12:57]

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV): "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a reverent awe of God in your daily life? How does this perspective change the way you approach challenges and decisions?

Day 5: Living in the Joy and Hope of the Gospel

The Gospel is about what Christ has done for us, not our actions. It calls us to believe in His sacrifice and live in the joy and hope of His resurrection, trusting God to guide us as we grow in understanding. This understanding of the Gospel shifts our focus from our efforts to Christ's completed work, inviting us to rest in His grace and live out our faith with joy and hope. [36:05]

Titus 3:4-7 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from your own efforts to Christ's completed work today? What does living in the joy and hope of the Gospel look like for you in practical terms?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we gathered to honor a beloved member of our faith community, a champion of faith whose life was dedicated to serving others, especially the little ones. This service reminded us of Jesus' words about the importance of welcoming children into His presence and the severe consequences for those who hinder them. The juxtaposition of judgment for those who obstruct and the reward for those who nurture is a powerful reminder of the joy and fulfillment found in serving others, particularly the vulnerable and innocent.

The essence of the Gospel is joy, a joy that began in the Garden of Eden with the promise of redemption through Christ, the second Adam. This joy is not just a fleeting emotion but a profound, life-altering truth that resonates with our deepest needs. It is the good news that transforms our lives, much like the personal milestones we cherish—marriage, the birth of a child, or a calling to serve. These moments of good news are reflections of the ultimate good news of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection.

As we navigate the complexities of life, with its mix of good and bad news, we are called to focus on the Scriptures and the story of Christ's birth. The shepherds in Luke 2 exemplify this focus. Despite their humble status and the prejudices they faced, they received the angelic message of great joy and responded with faith and obedience. Their story is a testament to the transformative power of God's revelation, which is available to all, regardless of status or background.

The shepherds' encounter with the angels teaches us about the fear of God, a reverent awe that leads to wisdom and understanding. This fear is not about being afraid but about recognizing God's majesty and responding with humility and faith. The angels' message of "fear not" is a reassurance that the Savior's birth brings peace and joy to all who believe.

In our journey of faith, we are encouraged to act on what we know, trusting that God will guide us as we grow in understanding. The Gospel is not about our actions but about what Christ has done for us. It is a call to believe in His sacrifice and to live in the joy and hope of His resurrection.

Key Takeaways

1. The importance of welcoming and nurturing children in faith is underscored by Jesus' words about the severe consequences for those who hinder them. Serving the vulnerable brings great joy and fulfillment, reflecting the heart of the Gospel. [01:24]
2. The Gospel is a source of profound joy, rooted in the promise of redemption through Christ. This joy is not just an emotion but a transformative truth that aligns with our deepest needs and life experiences. [02:37]
3. The story of the shepherds in Luke 2 highlights the power of God's revelation to transform lives, regardless of social status or background. Their response to the angelic message is a model of faith and obedience. [10:50]
4. The fear of God is a reverent awe that leads to wisdom and understanding. It is not about being afraid but about recognizing God's majesty and responding with humility and faith. [12:57]
5. The Gospel is about what Christ has done for us, not our actions. It calls us to believe in His sacrifice and live in the joy and hope of His resurrection, trusting God to guide us as we grow in understanding. [36:05]
** [36:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:24] - The Call to Serve the Little Ones
[02:37] - The Joy of the Gospel
[04:03] - Personal Reflections on Good News
[06:49] - The Purpose of Existence
[08:30] - The Christmas Story's True Meaning
[09:23] - Good Tidings of Great Joy
[10:04] - The Shepherds' Story
[10:50] - The Angelic Encounter
[12:13] - The Fear of God
[13:41] - The Birth of the Savior
[14:34] - The Shepherds' Response
[15:41] - Life as We Know It
[17:01] - The Shepherds' Humble Status
[19:25] - Jesus, the Good Shepherd
[21:57] - The Angels' Message
[23:23] - Revelation to the Humble
[26:00] - Seeking God's Glory
[27:08] - The Fear of the Lord
[28:46] - Reassurance in God's Message
[30:37] - The Promise of Salvation
[32:18] - Responding to God's Goodness
[34:01] - Obedience to God's Call
[36:05] - Understanding the Gospel
[38:01] - The Shepherds' Journey
[39:25] - Max Lucado's Insight
[40:30] - A Prayer for Faith and Hope
[42:09] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

The gospel is great joy. And the gospel began somewhere. Of course, it began in the garden when after all of the fail and the fall and the ruin, God said, let it be sure that the one. the snake may strike your heel, but be certain that the child of mine will crush its head. The first gospel, all the way back to the Garden of Eden. [00:01:49] (32 seconds)

If the judgment is sure for those who ignore or hinder the little children, how much greater the joy and the reward of those who serve the little children for the benefit of knowing God? Just a little extra, no charge. Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy. [00:01:24] (25 seconds)

The purpose of my life is to live out the purpose of His created order for me and to live out the right living of a child of God. This all began on a day I read the Scriptures, Galatians 4, 4, at a right time, at a perfect time, at the time ordained by God, God sent forth His Son into the world, and that Son for the purpose of dying for our sins. [00:07:35] (31 seconds)

The shepherds illustrate life as we know it, verse 8. The angels proclaim a message of great joy that we all need. And then the shepherds obey faithfully the knowledge that they had. So with this outline, let's consider our section of Scripture. The shepherds illustrate life as we know it, verse 8. [00:15:06] (30 seconds)

The fear of God is to revere Him. It's not that we're afraid He's going to hurt us. We need to revere God and position Him in His right place. And that's what the shepherds were doing. What are they doing? There's a right humility. And how did they respond? [00:27:50] (22 seconds)

The glory shone upon them and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Okay? That's what the shepherds are doing. They're responding rightly. There's a reassuring message. This message is how the angel responds based on what's happening with them. [00:28:46] (25 seconds)

Death this enemy of the gospel has been conquered by the resurrection. When Jesus came up out of the grave, He came up holding the keys to death, hell, and the grave. No more fear of death. No more fear of death. No more fear of hell. I'm not going to hell. Jesus already went to hell. He took the judgment of God that was mine for my sin. [00:29:39] (27 seconds)

Everything is under the authority of Almighty God. By the decree of His will, everything occurs. Big God. Little devil. And so these angels, they're ministering to the shepherds. They're promising them these good tidings, good news, great joy. And to all people, good news, they promise. Verse 10 and 11. For time, we already read it. [00:30:29] (28 seconds)

And some in this room, in their lifetime, they really did believe. Believe. But then the weight of the world and the attraction of every earthly thing have crowded out the Christ of Christmas. Oh, Heavenly Father, by your Spirit, remind them of this beautiful thing, greater than any earthly thing, this beautiful thing of Christ alone, for His glory and for our eternal hope. [00:40:54] (29 seconds)

There's nothing in this world worth exchanging for the hope of eternal life at Christ's. And then there's some in this room, many of us, who have at one time or another just bowed our knee. And though we've failed and fallen at times, we yearn with great anticipation and we say with the prophet Maranatha, come Lord Jesus, we await you. [00:41:23] (28 seconds)

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