The Joy of Faithfulness

Can you believe that the Christmas Season is upon us? Of
course, some of you have had your tree up since the weekend after
the fourth of July, but for the rest of us slackers, it’s finally here.
Many of you have everything ready for the Season, the tree is up,
the Christmas cards have all been mailed, the presents are
wrapped, and the anticipation is mounting. It truly is a wondrous
time of the year.

Sadly, for others, the Christmas Season is a tough time. It
could be rough because of loved ones who are no longer with us.
Perhaps times are difficult financially and you can’t do what you
would like for your family and your friends. Whatever the case
may be, it can be a lonely, sad time for some.
This morning, I’m beginning a new series. Whatever your
outlook on the season may be, as we consider the birth of Christ,
this should be THE SEASON OF OUR JOY. More than any other
holiday, the Christmas Season is marked by joy that is evident in
the many songs of the season. It truly is a season of Joy.
The book of Luke tells about a man and a woman whose
story is integral to the narrative of the Nativity. Christ would
not come until the forerunner came, and that forerunner
would be John the Baptist. Luke sheds light on the events
surrounding the birth of the great prophet by focusing upon his
godly parents, Zacharias and Elizabeth. Their godly example
speaks to us more than twenty centuries later. Their story is one of
joy for themselves and for others.