“What did you get?” This is a question we will hear a great deal over the days we celebrate Christmas with friends and family. It is not a time of empty boasting or bragging, but a time of sharing the joy we know from the gifts we receive. It is a time of celebrating with the one who receives that they have been given a gift they wanted.
The prophet Isaiah speaks of sharing the joy of the faithful believer. This joy is experienced when the faithful know that the Messiah has come. What is the first thing we should do? Then what do we do? The second half of verse 5 talks of who should hear of this. Who is it? Why should we shout and sing for joy?
The first reaction of joy talked about in this passage is giving thanks to the Lord. As we celebrate Christmas, in the midst of all our excitement and gratitude, we should turn first to God and give thanks. We should thank the Lord as the source of all good gifts.
Then we can proclaim our joy to others. We can share the happiness and excitement of the many gifts we have received. But the first and most important gift we have received is the gift of Jesus.
God has been made flesh. He has come to earth to dwell among us, to offer guidance and mercy. And this is the greatest gift, making all others pale in comparison, but also paving the way for our happiness in other gifts because the most essential concern, salvation, has been taken care of through Christ.
This passage from Isaiah is a gushing forth, an outpouring of gratitude and elation over the gift of the Messiah. This holiday we too should gush forth with praise and gratitude for all that we receive, but primarily for the great gift of God’s Son in Jesus Christ. God has done glorious things, and He has done them for you.
Let us not forget to thank the Maker of all things with joy for what He has done.
DAILY CHALLENGE: How will you shout and sing for joy this holiday?
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