Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

THEY REJOICED WITH EXCEEDING GREAT JOY!

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Matthew 2:10.

While it cannot be definitely proven that Jesus was born in December, let alone the

25th, it is generally accepted by the Christian world to remember, and to celebrate His birth at that time. During this time of year, nights on the Judean hills can be quite chilly, making warming shepherd flames most welcome.

Perhaps it was indeed a chilly night when Mary and Joseph found no room in the Inn in Bethlehem, and were forced to retreat to a stable to avoid bitter cold in the hour of childbirth. It is easy enough to visualize that scenario.

Meanwhile, there were shepherds in the fields keeping watch over their flocks that night when the angel of the Lord appeared to them, and made the announcement that many in Judea had longed to hear. They heard! Then, they went to see this marvelous thing that had come to pass! And they rejoiced with exceeding great joy as Luke 2 records it!

Millennia have come and gone since then. Still the good news is as joyful, vibrant and arresting as it was back then. God has become a man! He became one of us that we might be one with Him! Rejoice! Rejoice with exceeding great joy!

Fast forwarding to today, it is believed that in the holiday season from Thanksgiving through Christmas, there are more emotional extremes than at any other time of year. There is something extremely sad and depressing or extremely exciting and happy in the heart of every person about the very idea of Christmas. The awesomeness of the extreme awfulness of sin, and its effects in the world and upon every person coming into the world is overwhelming, but so is the magnificent, unexplainable wonder of compelling love; love that caused God to give His only begotten Son, and His only begotten Son coming into our world under extremely impoverished conditions. Additionally, He did for Adam’s race what no mortal could ever do! He wrought redemption for every repentant sinner. What then can I give Him, poor as I am? The best gift of all: what He came to redeem: my heart! And I rejoice with exceeding great joy!

FOR THOUGHT: How do you view the Christmas Jesus Who became the resurrected Christ? Do His promises live as personal guarantees in your heart? Do you agree that knowing Him is more than a mental ascent; that it takes personal acknowledgment and repentance of sin while looking to Him and His accomplishments as your personal substitute and redeemer? If not, will you trust Him now?