Rev. Ray and Pat Amos
Luke 2:8
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, December 17, 2019
“Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go…”
King Herod was a very real part of the Christmas story, but the chances of finding him on a Christmas card are about zero. There is too much “humbug” in his life. How is it possible that shepherds and foreign visitors could find the Christ child, and the king with all his resources could not find a baby who was sleeping nine miles away? I believe the answer is the condition of his heart. Jesus had been announced as being GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY. An angry, bitter, and jealous person never looks where joy dwells.
Each month our church distributes food to some of our neighbors. Most are going through some hard times, yet they expressed so much hope and joy in spite of their situations. Often it is when we are doing well that we seem to lose the joy of simplicity and faith.
Somewhere between “Bah Humbug” and “God bless us everyone,” Ebenezer Scrooge was literally saved from his destruction because he had an encounter with real joy. Herod never found it. If the experience of having a meaningful Christmas depends on our attitude and heart; what will this Christmas be like?
We ask God to forgive us for things like our sins, evil thoughts, and bad temper; but when was the last time we prayed to be forgiven of our joylessness and unhappiness? Perhaps that is why we can’t seem to shake off our gloomy spirit. Should we remain silent while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy?
Grace and Peace, Rev Ray
Link to Youtube – Joy to the World
