December
23
Two days til Christmas – when we celebrate
the coming of Jesus – the one who died on the cross for our sins. So why did he willingly come, and willingly die –
for a sinner like me?
The answer is found in Hebrews 12. “For the joy set before him he endured the
cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition
from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
His Father had given Him the promise of
life after death, and He had the kind of relationship with his Father so that
he trusted Him completely. So with joy, he
laid down his life.
This fact is supposed to encourage us when we become weary and start to lose hope.
Joy is attainable; in fact, it’s quite sustainable,
and very much available - even in the middle of facing certain death. Again, this seems completely contradictory to
everything we can imagine.
Feeling shamed? Scorned? Opposed? Near
death?
Ask God to help you see the joy set before
you so that you don’t become weary and lose heart.
“JOY to the World…the LORD is come.”
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