GOD REJOICES OVER YOU

Ron Gray, Missions & Outreach Pastor

"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." - Zephaniah 3:17

Around June 25th each year I begin to look forward to Christmas. I think what delights me the most about the season is the gathering of friends and family. Each time one of our family walk through our front door, my heart rejoices! That joy is made all the sweeter by the months of anticipation that precedes their arrival at our Christmas celebration.

The coming of Jesus so many years ago brought great joy to many. Luke, in his gospel, recounts how people responded to Jesus’ arrival. Mary, Jesus’ mother, rejoiced. Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth cried out with gladness. The baby within Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy. The shepherds were filled with wonder and excitement. The angels declared that the news of Jesus’ coming would be the source of great joy for all people. The prophets Simeon and Anna praised God joyfully upon seeing the holy baby.

God’s people had awaited the Messiah’s arrival for many centuries. After such a wait, it is no wonder that those who recognized Jesus for who he was were filled with joy. Even today, those who believe that our Savior has come are filled with great joy. There is no greater joy than that which a person experiences when they receive a revelation of who Jesus is and accept the salvation he brings. Equal to that is the joy we feel when someone we love responds to Jesus’ invitation to live with him.

We who receive Christ are not the only ones who rejoice at his coming. God too is filled with great joy. According to Zephaniah 3:17, God rejoices that he is reunited with his people. Having saved us, he delights in us. He rejoices over us with joyful songs.

The path that Jesus took was not an easy one. He left his exalted place in Heaven to come and walk with us, suffering in order to be our salvation. Isaiah described the Messiah as a suffering servant who was a man of sorrows, acquainted with the deepest grief (Isaiah 53:3). Yet Jesus, knowing the joy that lay ahead, willingly endured all of it for our sake (Hebrews 12:2). To Jesus, you are worth it all. He is filled with joy at the thought of his coming, for in his coming he has reconnected with you. You, and the relationship Jesus has with you, are a source of great joy for him.

As Christmas celebrations draw to a close and as the dark days of winter drag on, remember that God rejoices. He rejoices because he and you can now be reunited and walk through life together. You are a delight to God’s heart. If you pause and listen, perhaps you will hear him singing a love song over you.

Your Savior rejoices over you!