Day 24: Exceedingly With Great Joy
The weary world rejoices. I love that line. I’ve been thinking about all the rejoicing, praising, and glorifying God happening in the Christmas story. It’s a little hard to relate to because it was unique and on a grand scheme scale. But at the same time, like you, there have been divine moments in our lives when we’ve been alive with joy and thanksgiving because of something God is doing. That’s a testimony, and they are powerful!
The thing about testimonies is that they have many layers. Of those, there is usually a weary layer or two. Even in the story of Jesus’ birth. Each person is experiencing weariness for different reasons.
Zechariah and Elizabeth are advanced in years and without a child.
Joseph and Mary had been traveling and couldn’t find a guest room.
Mary was nine months pregnant.
The shepherds were working.
The wise men were escaping a political game and traveling.
And collectively, they were a people waiting to be saved.
But the weary part of a testimony is never the ending, is it?
Zechariah and Elizabeth rejoiced with child.
Baby John, still in the womb, leaped with joy at Jesus’ nearness.
Mary magnified the Lord and rejoiced.
The shepherds glorified and praised God for all they heard and saw.
Simeon and Anna gave thanks.
The wise men rejoiced exceedingly with great joy and worshiped.
Even the angels gave glory in the night sky.
Jesus changes everything.
We rejoice in his coming. We rejoice in his nearness. We rejoice for what is being prepared for us—exceedingly with great joy.
A thrill of hope- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Brave Sparrow 