Unexpected JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drink up and get your heart prepared for a joyful Christmas season!

            The entire month of December we’re going to be looking for examples of joy found in the Christmas story….some are obvious, some are not. 

            Today let’s look John’s parents….Zechariah and Elizabeth…for an example of unexpected joy.  These two weren’t just outwardly compliant to God’s laws; they were inwardly obedient.  The scripture describes them in Luke as being upright in the sight of God.

            My Bible commentary explains:

Zechariah was told before anyone else that God was setting in motion his own visit to earth.  Zechariah and Elizabeth were known for their personal holiness.  They were well suited to doing a special work for God.  But they shared the pain of not having children, and in Jewish culture this was considered not having God’s blessing. They were both old and had almost given up hope.

            One day, when Zechariah was on duty as priest at the temple, he was chosen to enter the “Holy Place” and burn incense.  Incense was burned in the temple so that when the people saw the smoke, they were reminded to pray.  The smoke drifting toward heaven symbolized their prayers ascending to God’s throne. 

            While in the Holy Place, an angel appeared to Zechariah and told him the UNEXPECTED but JOYful news! He and Elizabeth would have a son.    “He will be a joy and delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth…” said the angel in Luke 1:14.

            Find the unexpected joy in every aspect of this Christmas.