There is great joy at Jesus’ first coming. But the joy of the believer will be ultimately be fulfilled at His second coming.
Joy: A 30-Day Devotional Through the Book of Luke
Greetings Dear Family and Friends,
For the past several years, I have written a devotional during the Christmas season. Later today I will make my first post and then each day for the next 30 days I will post a short devotional. Each day we will briefly examine one of the encounters from the life of Jesus as written in the Gospel of Luke with the purpose of multiplying our joy as we contemplate the glory of our Lord.
There is something about this time of year that prompts me to attempt to share the joy I experience as I meditate on the birth of my Savior. I have experienced joy in my life at times when it was least be expected. Joy is a supernatural gift from God…and for the thinking person, it is evidence of God’s existence.
At our Christmas Eve Eve service at Onward Church on December 23, 2022 I gave this devotional as a book to everyone in attendance.
My prayer is that the good news that this season brings will be a time of great joy for you and your family…just as the angels promised!
Onward with the greatest joy,
Gary
Day 29: The Joy of Forgiveness
Only when we forsake our unbelief and turn to God in brokenness and humility can we experience the forgiveness that He will give.
Day 28: The Disciples’ Joy
We know Christianity is true because Jesus is alive! He died, and He rose from the dead! No other religion can make a claim like ours!
Day 27: Joy in Emmaus
The Resurrection is the source of the greatest joy in the history of the world! I would argue much greater than the “tidings of great joy” that the angels delivered the night when Jesus was born.
Day 26: Resurrection Joy
The greatest words that have ever been uttered for the benefit of humankind, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!
Day 25: Joy Is Crucified
The cross is the reason why Jesus came into the world. In fact, He made that clear in how He spoke of His purpose in coming
Day 24: Joy in Agony
There are times when joy is in agony. That might sound strange, but there are times when we must face agony in order to experience fullness of joy.
Day 23: Jesus’ Joy
Fifteen hundred years after Passover was instituted, Jesus was fulfilling everything that Passover was teaching.
Day 22: Jerusalem’s Joy
When Jesus returns, we will join in with the whole city and the whole world to say, “Baruch haba b’Shem Adonai = Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Day 21: Zacchaeus’ Joy
it wasn’t Zacchaeus seeing Jesus that this story is about, but Jesus seeing him! Jesus noticed him and invited Himself over to his house for dinner.
