Last Sunday for us here at Woodlawn it was the Third Sunday of Advent, the day when we light the candle of 'Joy'. The crutch of the sermon was the joy that our Lord wants us to feel over the good gifts He gives us each and every moment of our lives. God feels joy in giving to us and all that He wishes from us is our acknowledgment of the gifts that we have received.
I compared these aspects of joy to our own gift giving to our children, family, and friends. As we grow older we understand this component of 'Joy' more and more fully... as a parent or even more-so perhaps as a grandparent, we take much greater joy in giving than in receiving... but, a part of this joy is seeing genuine appreciation from our friends and loved ones.
Let us make sure to acknowledge in prayer our joy in the gifts our Father in Heaven gives to us each moment of our lives. There is no way that we can list these gifts... they are just too numerous... but, we should at least once a day lift up a prayer of appreciation and worship to the One that loves us so very, very much.
Be a blessing (and joy) to someone today!
In His Joy,
Roy
Luke 3:7-18 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,[a] 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Footnotes:
a) Luke 3:15 Or the Christ
b) Luke 3:16 Or in
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please be respectful in your comments to each other and to myself as well.
Thank you and Bless you for reading and commenting.