Saturday, December 22, 2012

Dec 22 - Luke 2:17 (a)

And when they saw it they made known
the saying which had been told them
concerning this child …
Luke 2:17

“Stop! Don’t tell me the ending! I want to go see it myself!”

Have you ever said that?! Have you ever had a friend who watched a movie and was so enthusiastic that they couldn’t stop talking about it? couldn’t stop revealing all the plot points and details?

Your friend’s enthusiasm is evangelism. The joy and wonder is so great that someone can’t contain their words of acclamation.

That was the shepherds as they returned from the stable. They shared their joy. They couldn’t contain it.

Do you share your joy?

In fact, do you call what you have joy? Do you associate your faith with passion? The first step of evangelism is passion, joy, hope, and transformation.

If those words aren’t associated with your faith right now, it’s not because you don’t have faith! (You’re reading this, after all.) You want God. You want more. But for some reason, you’re stuck in some phase of sundown and night.

The shepherds were wandering through dark and distant fields too. But God did not forget them. He came to them there.

Christmas is God’s promise that he comes into our darkened world.

Here are two simple secrets to discovering joy in the midst of earth’s darkness …
  •      Listen to those who’ve seen the light and let their enthusiasm shepherd you to greater joy.
  •      Share with others your joy. Tell them what you have seen and heard. And watch your joy grow as you see seeds of hope begin to blossom in their life.


In Christ’s Love,
a guy who wants to look like
a sheep from the front
(listening eagerly for where to go)
And like a shepherd from behind
(sharing freely about my blessings)

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