The Field of Joys (The Hardest Road Can Lead to the Best Place, Part III)
Text: Luke 2:8-20
Ever been stranded? Joyless - cultural pressure - life events - stranded and all alone, without hope or joy! God can rescue us.
You can live in the field of joys! The mega joys! Where there is hope, peace, joy! How do I find the field of joys?
1) Hear the news!
V10 - it’s not what you see but what you hear!
A) Hear – it’s about you! V11 - Salvation! Your life! Without fear!
B) Shepherds and us! God cares about even the average Joe! Isolation - family only - fear of relationships – repetition -comfort zones
Do you hear what I hear? A Savior, Christ the Lord, for you!
”Joy is the experience that you are unconditionally loved” - Henri Nouwen
C) God’s good pleasure - God loves you! The Field of joy! God is with you! Catch the Joy!
Boy scouts and leaving a trail – signs - lost? Stranded? Find the field of joys!
2) Find the sign!
V12 - God verifies His word! He will prove His good news
Motivation - now to see it with your own eyes - “If you build it, they will come” - “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” - “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
V15-16 - How do you stay motivated?
Effort - sense of urgency - made haste - God has a place for me to arrive at - Unity - together - why I believe in the church! Unity in mission - found the place!
“This is true joy in life - being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one.” - G.B. Shaw
Follow the directions and find the sign! God will prove he is good to his word. What joy but to see God prove he is for real! Joy, Joy, Joy - find the field of joys!
3) Put it all together
V17-18 - Mary- “pondered them in her heart” - put all this together
Her relationship and responsibility - Put it all together - God loves you! Place for you!
The Shepherds believed! Recounted the visit by God! They put it all together, and they returned to their fields joy filled! Singing and shouting the whole way! Put it all together!
“One filled with joy preaches without preaching.” - Mother Theresa
Conclusion
At the mall, there is hope for Christmas! Amid the lines for Santa, Jesus is alive and well in the hearts of people! You can find the field of Joys! Love, peace, purpose, hope