ADVENT BIBLE STUDY
Week 4: JOY
Day 4: The Joy of God’s Eternal Love
via TJC
10 Behold, the Lord Yahweh will come as a mighty one,
and his arm will rule for him.
Behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will gather the lambs in his arm,
and carry them in his bosom.
He will gently lead those who have their young.
Isaiah 40:10-11 (WEB)
It is said that happiness is based on happenings. In other words, we are happy when we experience happy things. OK, but how am I supposed to be happy when it seems there is nothing good going on in my life? What emotion should I wear on my sleeve when, counter to the songs we sing this time of year, my cheeks aren’t nice and rosy and I feel anything but comfy cozy? The answer my friends…JOY.
Christmas can be difficult for many men. The pressure of providing enough for our families to give them a Hallmark Christmas is very real. The stressors of life, work, and relationships don’t observe federal holidays. Some men are struggling just to keep it together in the wake of seemingly cataclysmic events like death, divorce, or bankruptcy. It is a good thing then that none of our circumstances (happenings) can in any way affect the promises Jesus came to fulfill.
Our mighty Lord came to inaugurate His kingdom on earth and Jesus still reigns supreme. His arm continues to rule today, manifesting acts of deliverance for His children and acts of vengeance against His enemies. With His birth, life, and death came the spoils of His victory; our very salvation and reconciliation to God. As a righteous judge, He dispenses punishments for the rebellious and preferments for His children.
The same arm which rules with the might of a king, will also feed us with the tenderness of a shepherd. He takes particular care of those that need Him most; holding the weak, young, and injured tight against His chest, closest to His compassionate heart. Being a merciful shepherd, He gently leads those who are burdened, giving special attention to preserve and protect the most vulnerable of His flock.
So, be filled with great joy. The glory of the Lord has been revealed to us. Behold your King, God, and Redeemer. Find solace in the fact that, no matter what is happening in our temporal lives, our hope exists in the eternal realm. Hold fast to the truth that Jesus still sits on the throne and nothing can ever pluck us from His hand. Because I know all these things to be true, my heart will always be full of unspeakable joy, even in times when I may not have an earthly cause to be happy.
ABOUT EVERY MAN A WARRIOR
Every Man A Warrior is a discipleship Bible study that “Helps Men Succeed in Life". It helps them win the battles they fight every day. Since 2011, 50,000 men in 40 countries and in 18 languages have been impacted by the Every Man A Warrior curriculum. The Every Man A Warrior ministry joined Trans World Radio (TWR) in 2017 in order to take discipleship around the world. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EMAW and learn about how you can implement this training series in your men’s group.
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