12/11-12/17

Advent Week 3 Devotional: JOY

After hundreds of years of being enslaved in Egypt, when the Hebrew people were finally set free from their oppressors they began singing and praising the Lord. A psalmist described it this way, “he {God} brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing” (Psalm 105:43 NRSV). God’s deliverance of his people resulted in praising the Lord, our Deliverer. Our response to what God does for us, including delivering us from sin and death, should be joyful worship and adoration.

 

When the angel visited the shepherds on the night Jesus was born, the angel proclaimed, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11 NRSV). The angel reminds us that the story of Christmas is good news for all people. It is a gospel message of great joy for everyone! The source of hope, love, and joy chose to be born among us and abide with us. Through our faith in Jesus and the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ we have an inexpressible and overflowing joy that can be seen when we give cheerfully and live generously. The apostle Paul taught that part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us is “joy” (Galatians 5:22-23). Don’t try to hide it, but instead let the joy of the Lord that is in you overflow into singing, giving, and generosity.

 

During the Advent season, we are reminded that God is the source of joy. This daily devotional for the third week of the season is designed to help you focus on the JOY of the Lord. The format is designed for you to use as much or little as you have time to use each day. Below is a guide for the weekly and daily use of this Advent devotional:

Each Week

• Answer the Advent Questions
• Watch the Advent Theme Bible Project video once, preferably on Sunday or Monday
• Listen to the hymn a few times throughout the week, perhaps on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, or whichever days the Holy Spirit guides you to listen

Each Day

• Read the brief portion of the hymn lyrics to begin
• Read the Bible verses for the day
• Think through your responses to the Daily Questions
• Pray
• Live in joyful response to Jesus

 

Week #3 Advent Questions:

You may find it helpful to write your responses to the following questions or to talk about them with a family member, friend, or your small group:

 

How did focusing on love last week help me to be more loving?

 

How am I experiencing God-given joy through the people in my life?

 

How am I responding to God and others with an expression of joy even when circumstances are not good?

 

How is the joy of the Lord overflowing in my life?

 

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). Am I resting in Christ each day by giving my body the sleep it needs?

 

Am I resting each week by observing a partial or full Sabbath? If not, what do I need to stop doing so that I can have time to rest each day and observe the Sabbath?

 

Daily Hymn:

To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Christ, each day this week read part of the hymn lyrics from “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Phillips Brooks:

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;

cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

 

Advent Theme Video:

You are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about the biblical theme of JOY this week either using the link below or searching for it on Youtube:

Joy by the Bible Project

 

Daily Bible Verses to Read:

Sunday – Isaiah 35:1-10 (everlasting joy will crown their heads)

 

Monday – 1 Peter 1:8-9 (because of believing in Jesus we have an inexpressible joy)

 

Tuesday – Nehemiah 8:8-12 (the joy of the Lord is our strength)

 

Wednesday – Jeremiah 31:11-13 (God will turn mourning into gladness and give comfort & joy instead of sorrow)

 

Thursday – Job 8:21 (God will fill your lips with shouts of joy) and Galatians 5:22-23 (joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit)

 

Friday – 2 Corinthians 8:1-4 (the overflowing joy and extreme poverty of the Macedonian churches welled up into generosity)

 

Saturday the Sabbath – Psalm 96 (let all creation rejoice before the Lord)

 

Daily Questions in Response to the Bible Verse(s):

What does this message from God shared through the Bible verse(s) reveal about JOY?

 

Where am I witnessing joy in my life or the lives of others?

 

What, if anything, is preventing me from expressing the joy God gives me?

 

What if I intentionally enjoy today and all that God provides?

 

Listen to the Hymn:

You are encouraged to listen to the hymn for this week at least on a few days either using the links below for the YouTube videos, through Spotify, Apple Music, or another streaming service, or using versions that are familiar to you that you have available:

“O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Natalie Grant’s version

 

Jeremy Camp’s version

 

Pray:

O Holy One, born in Bethlehem,

descend to us yet again.

Enter into our hearts and lives today

to cast out our desire to sin.

Yes, you give us new birth through the work of your Spirit.

Through faith we are born anew thanks to you!

Give us ears that hear the Christmas messages and messengers

proclaiming the good news of great joy.

O come to us, yes, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel.

Yes, you are the God who is with us.

In the fulness of your presence there is overflowing joy!

We rejoice and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online.