“You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 (NIV)
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)
SEEK HIM: Devotion is Meeting with God in Our Own Lives!
This week, as we continue asking, “Do you see what I see?”, we look at joy through the eyes of heaven. One angel announced the good news of great joy, and then a multitude of angels burst into praise because Jesus, the Messiah, was born. The angels saw God’s goodness, His grace, and His hope for humanity, and that made them celebrate with heavenly worship. Scripture says the angels also rejoice when a sinner repents (Luke 15:7, 10). So, when we talk about joy, the angels show us what makes heaven joyful: God’s presence and God’s saving work in the life of a person He created. When we look where the angels look, we begin to find joy where they find joy. Let’s seek the Lord this week about joy through heaven’s perspective.
(Along the way, take a few moments to listen to the podcast about The Mystery conversation here.)
WHAT: What is God saying through this Scripture?
Psalm 16 tells us joy is found in God’s presence, and Acts 2:28 repeats this promise. Luke 2 reveals what the angels saw the night of Christ’s birth: God’s promise fulfilled, salvation arriving, and heaven touching earth. The angels rejoiced because they recognized Jesus for who He is. When we fix our eyes on Him, we begin to see joy the same way they did. ~ When you read these verses, what stands out about the angels’ response? Where do you see joy shining through God’s Word and His presence today? How might seeing Jesus more clearly help you experience greater joy? Is anything distracting you from seeing Jesus right now: doubt, busyness, Christmas traditions, social media, or even something else?
WHY: Why does this Scripture matter?
The angels show us the source of real joy. They rejoiced at creation (Job 38), they rejoiced at Jesus’ birth (Luke 2), and they rejoice whenever a sinner repents (Luke 15). Their joy isn’t tied to circumstances but to God’s presence, goodness, and saving work. We often chase happiness that fades, but heaven rejoices in what lasts forever. Seeing joy as they see it helps us build our lives on what is eternal, not seasonal. ~ Why do the angels’ priorities challenge your view of joy? How does their perspective help you define joy differently than happiness? In what ways does God’s presence offer something deeper than circumstances? How would your joy grow if you celebrated what heaven celebrates?
HOW: How does God want us to respond to this truth?
If angels respond to God’s work with praise, we are encouraged to respond the same way. Joy grows when we worship. Joy deepens when we join heaven’s celebration. As Psalm 16 says, God fills us with joy in His presence. Let’s choose to acknowledge His presence, rest by faith knowing He is right here, and respond with praise. ~ What could help you praise God more intentionally this week? How can you stay more aware of His presence in ordinary moments? How might praise shift your attitude or those in your home? What truths about God stir joy in you today?
SPEAK HIM: Discipleship is Making God Known to Others!
Notice that the angels didn’t rejoice quietly; they praised publicly. Their joy overflowed into proclamation. This week, follow their example and let your praise point others to Jesus. And as your family speaks Him, your home becomes an echo of heaven’s joy.
WEEK 4 ADVENTure Activity: The Joy Tracker
Overview:
While the world tracks Santa, Christian families can instead track heaven’s joy in their homes and lives. This reframes Christmas from “What’s coming to me?” to “Where is God at work in and around me?”
To do this, we suggest making a Joy Tracker Text Thread!
Families create a text thread in which you share where you spotted the kind of JOY heaven celebrates during Christmas week. Some examples of this JOY would be: a kindness shown or received, a Scripture that touched their heart, a moment where God felt near, worship that stirred joy, forgiveness given, generosity extended, reconciliation, unexplainable peace, seeing someone else grow in faith
For families with little ones who do not have digital devices, all the better! Talk about what makes angels celebrate! This makes joy visible and tangible for all ages and teaches kids to recognize joy, not just feel it.
After the fun of opening presents is over on Christmas, spend a few intentional moments as a family looking through the text thread, reading and talking about whatever was texted, and adding other stories of JOY sightings!
Up Next:
Well done completing this year’s ADVENTure collection of conversations! Join us in the new year for our next conversation collection! All throughout the year, in season and out of season, we want to “Seek Him Speak Him!”
