Joy in the Journey

Those skip a beat moments

There are moments in life when our hearts skip a beat. They come from different places, sometimes that beat skipping is exciting, sometimes it’s awe inspiring sometimes it’s terrifying, always there’s a feeling of exhilaration. (First Roller Coaster Ride, Last Roller Coaster ride at Geauga Lake Big dipper, Superman Roller coaster)

The thing about the Shepherds is they were minding their own business, they were doing their day to day job and God stepped in. (Talk about the Shepherds a bit.)

Which brings us to arguably the biggest skip a beat moment in the Shepherds lives.

Minding their own business

Luke 2:8 CSB

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.

Many of our skip a beat moments come when we are going through our daily routine. There is comfort in conformity many times. Doing what you are used to, doing what you’re supposed to do, doing what’s expected of you day in and day out, sure that can be a dull way to live, but at the same time it’s an easy way to live. It’s an easy way because it requires nothing of us. The Shepherds were doing exactly what was expected of them. The job of a shepherd was not very glamorous job but they did it. They were every day people living their life going about their own business, comfortable, not rocking the boat and then comes that skip a beat moment and it was a big one.

Luke 2:9 CSB

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Years ago when people actually started playing video games again at home there was a new genere and game that came out. The year was 1996 (talk about getting the PlayStation and bioshock/Resident evil focus on the jump scare zombies all that) That’s basically what the Shepherds are dealing with here. One minute they are sitting there making sure everyithngs cool, maybe sitting by the fire talking, the next poof there’s an angel standing in front of them, they freak out…they have their skip a beat moment. You know the kind. Like that first jump scare in a video game, or the first hill on that huge roller coaster, the first time you ask someone out when you’re all of 11..all the firsts that make you pause and many times can be the beginning of Joy.

Comfort in communication

Luke 2:10–14 CSB

But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!

One of the things that makes horror moves and games scary, that makes a roller coaster daunting is the unknown, is the beliefe that there is danger. (talk about the need for sound in a scary movie, and the anticipation of that first big hill on the rollercoasgter from before) What mitigates these fears is the resoultion of the thing that is scary, in a scary movie it comes when the monster is beaten…with a roller coaster the joy comes from finally getting over that first hill, and in the case of the shepherds..there is a very clear understanding of exactly what’s going on and who’s who.

The angel says looks let me spell out exaclty what’s happening here.

Joy in the news

Joy for all

Salvation from the Messiah

An here’s the proof

When the angel lays it all out and then the heavenly choir sings the Journey begins. A journey to Joy.

Joy has to be pursued.

Luke 2:15–16 CSB

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger.

If they had stayed where they were…they would have missed out on what mattered. The shepherds were given all the information that they needed but information wasn’t enough, they had to make a move. In our lives it’s the same thing. We have to make a move. (expound a bit)

Joy Shared

What’s the first thing you do when something makes you laugh or smile or brings you joy. You share it.

Luke 2:17–20 CSB

After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

The shepherds shared

Mary treasured

Promises were kept

This Week’s Challenge

Stop looking at all the reasons you have to be frightened, or sad or angry. Begin to look for the places of Joy that God has laid out for you. Chase after them.