Joy
to the World, the Lord
has come!
2012 was a year full of lessons in joy.
This joy began 2012 years ago in a stable. Baby Jesus was born.
Then the angel said to
them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy
which will be to all people.” Luke 2:10
That baby grew to be a man. God’s son.
God in flesh. This perfect man
fulfilled the Scriptures of Zechariah.
“Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King
is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a
donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Zechariah 9:9
But
He did not come to be an earthly king.
He came to die, also a fulfillment of Scriptures. He is the ultimate example of joy. He died for the joy of our salvation from the
bondage of sin! He rejoices over
us!
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy
that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One,
will save; He will rejoice
over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice
over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
And as the bridegroom rejoices
over the bride, So shall your God rejoice
over you. Isaiah 62:5
Thankfully
the story does not end in the tomb. As
the above verse in Hebrews mentioned, He rose again to Heaven where He is
interceding on our behalf. And He has
promised us that we are not to sorrow since He will return one day. The verse below is so much more real with the
birth of our Abigail Katherine this year.
A
woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon
as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into
the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you
again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. John 16:21-22
With all He gave for us, how can we help but
respond? We are called to reflect His
joy. How do we do that when
circumstances are not always joyful? Our
joy is not in our circumstances but in the Lord who gave His life for us. He is faithful through everything!
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My
soul shall be joyful
in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered
me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with
ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10
Rejoice
in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4
It is He, Himself, who enables us to have the joy in
spite of challenging circumstances. It
is not always calm and quiet on the home front, but God is enabling Michael and
I to be filled with joy.
Now may the God of
hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may
abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
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This is the Weyler’s Joy-filled
testimony to God’s faithfulness in 2012.
But let all those rejoice
who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy,
because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful
in You. Psalm 5:11
Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!” Psalm 40:16
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