Day 6
Good News of Great Joy
And in the same region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:8-11
The Christmas season is my favorite time of year. I love the lights, the music, the flavors, the movies, the family gatherings, and, when we’re lucky, the cold weather. Christmas is a season of wonderment and looking towards the coming year. It’s a season of longing. But it’s also a hectic season. It’s a season of anxiety, doubt, and fear for many of us. It may seem odd to read a devotional about the beginnings of the Christmas story weeks after the event, but I think the Christmas story has something to teach us as we begin a new year full of excitement for something new, yet unknown.
Our story begins in a field outside of the small town of Bethlehem, where shepherds are watching over their flock. It’s the dark of night, with the only light coming from the moon and a small campfire; the only sounds are their voices and an occasional noise from the sheep. Can you imagine the fright that overcomes them when the sky is suddenly filled with light, and then an angel appears to them? The Bible says they were “filled with great fear.” But the angel tells them not to be afraid; he has “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Why? Simply put, Jesus has come. Their Savior is finally here.
But the story doesn’t end there. The shepherds are faced with a choice: to stay where they are amid the confusion and chaos they just experienced, or go into the town of Bethlehem and locate the One around whom their joy will center. Pursuing joy is always an action. It’s a choice we make.
That joy—the shepherds' joy—is not just for that night. It’s a joy that echoes throughout history, reaching us today. It’s the message in the Psalms, in the book of Isaiah, the message to Mary, the message to Zechariah, to the disciples when they see Jesus walking on water, and to the disciples as Jesus gets ready to die. The joy of Jesus is not a fleeting feeling, but a deep, abiding confidence that no matter what this year may bring, God is with us. He is our Savior, still. We may face hardships, but we are not alone. We may face unknowns, but we know the One who holds the future. Just as the shepherds ran to find the baby Jesus, we are called to run toward joy—toward the Savior—each and every day.
As we begin this new year, let’s hold fast to the joy that Christ’s coming brings. Let it be a joy that sustains us through our struggles, that encourages us when we feel discouraged, and that reminds us of the hope we have in Christ. May we, like the shepherds, go forth from this moment—changed by the good news of great joy. "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy." This is our message as we move forward into this new year. The Savior has come. Jesus is here.
FURTHER REFLECTION:
What is a small way in which you can choose joy today?
How can you actively pursue joy, as the shepherds did, even in life’s anxieties and uncertainties?
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the joy that comes through knowing You. As I begin this new year, may Your joy be my strength. Help me to seek You with a heart full of wonder, trusting that Your presence is with me in every moment. Give me the courage to share that joy with others and be a reflection of Your love in the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
John 16:16-33, Psalm 27-30
by Matt Brashier