The Joy of the Coming Child

​Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Oh what a joyful time this is. Isaiah was given this knowledge to provide a hopefulness to the people who would be held captive. It gave them something to look forward to, a savior that will bring peace and love into the dark world filled with sin and hate.  
They were looking forward to the eternal kingdom which would provide sanctuary and rest from the bonds of sin and death. The timing of His coming would not be known nor did they realize the process He would have to go through to accomplish the mission. All they knew was that this child would come and bring about the eternal kingdom on earth.
Philippians 2:1-11 (ESV)
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Why is this week Joy? Well, as this is the 3rd Sunday, we are in grateful yet humble anticipation of the day we celebrate the coming of the King. Waiting for the moment when the Angels will announce His birth to the world while He sleeps in a manger. He came to us, Word in the Flesh, in the most humble of ways. Not a castle nor an expensive hotel. Not surrounded by family except Mary and Joseph. Witnessed by the Innkeepers wife and the animals (God’s creation prior to man to receive first jubilation) and made known to the most humble, yet extremely important, shepherds. We should feel the joy of the heart this week as we reflect on how Jesus has affected our lives.   God cares so much for us that He was willing to leave His throne without Word and Truth for a short time so that the Word and Truth could enter the world and defeat sin and death. The Word/Truth (Jesus) has set us free from the bonds of sin.
We celebrate in joyful adoration.                Praise Be to God All Glory and Honor is His.