Joyful Or Joyless
Are you joyless on this Christmas Eve? Sometimes we find ourselves “Joyless” at Christmas! How could that be? Sometimes It happens… The hustle-bustle of the Christmas Season can chase away our Joy and leave us stressed! So let’s have a “Magi Moment” and impassion and strengthen our soul in God’s joy.
Dig Deeper: https://thebridegroomscafe.com/tussled/
What Is Joy
Joy, in the biblical context, is an unshakable sense of happiness and contentment that is deeply rooted in JESUS, rather than our ever changing, temporal worldly viewpoint and fickle emotions. It is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and is always found in the presence and favor of God.
Unlike fleeting happiness, God’s joy is patiently and powerfully enduring and experienced even in the midst of some of our really long journeys in seasons of change, or our tenacious trials, and in our sudden sufferings.
Let’s Take A “Magi Moment” Together
Let’s take a good look at these Magi Kings so we can understand the where and why of their ecstatic joy. Could it be “Contagious Joy” could we “Catch The Joy”? There hasn’t ever been a more powerful statement made on this earth, then the birth of Jesus Christ. It marked us for joy. Jesus, Others, You. This was the catch of Christmas Joy. Jesus came to us, He came to dethrone self-centered, man-made dependence upon a temporary will and He modeled this with His birth and life. He Came Here To Us! Miraculously Merrily So! Dig Deeper:
https://thebridegroomscafe.com/catch-the-joy/
Historical Account Of The Magi
“The Magi, often referred to as wise men, were likely astrologers or scholars from the East, possibly Persia or Babylon. Their journey was guided by a celestial event, which they interpreted as the sign of a new king’s birth. The star they saw is often linked to the prophecy in Numbers 24:17, which speaks of a star coming out of Jacob. This star’s appearance was a divine sign, leading them to the Messiah. The star’s guidance highlights God’s sovereignty and His ability to use natural phenomena to fulfill His purposes.” BibleHub.com
These Magi Were… Pagan Astrologers…who had seen an Astrological Phenomenon and tied it to a couple of prophecies that they found in the ancient scrolls. Seems a bit odd. These Magi would be today, culturally labeled as weirdo’s and geeks. They were wealthy esteemed men who were academic nuts and spent most of their time researching astronomy of the stars, sun, moon, planets.
Yet, when they “divinely” run across the Hebrew prophecy… about the Phenomenon star they had seen…and a king to be found… they left everything they knew to follow the star…seeking a king…in followship…of a star… it seemed a bit cray-cray!
The Magi followed the star because of Micah 5:2-5 and Numbers 24:17 these prophecies matched up with a supernatural light that they had been observing as astrologers. They felt like it was a divine summons and continued by miraculous guidance to follow the star
“I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. ”Numbers 24:17 CSB
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. Micah 5:2-5 ESV
Todays…Magi Moment
So this Christmas Eve, we’re gonna look at how the Christmas story reflects this “Magi Moment” so, that we can glean from and learn the treasure of true joy from these Magi who found themselves in the Christmas story of Jesus and were forever remembered in God’s Bible.
The Famous Magi Moment: “And when they saw the star, they were so ecstatic that they shouted and celebrated with unrestrained joy.” Matthew 2:10 TPT
Let’s break it down so we can “Catch The Joy” and have our own “Magi Moment”! How disappointing it must have been to travel so far, through the many travel trials, just to lose sight of the star. We probably would have given up, our human condition quits often as we serve no power higher than self, because without the power of God’s guidance in our lives we don’t have that patient endurance that leads to a Magi Moment.
The star reappeared and the Magi’s reaction upon seeing the star again was one of incredible joy, indicating their deep desire to be led by God to find and worship the newborn King. This ecstatic joy reflects the fulfillment of their very long journey and the anticipation of meeting this prophesied king. It also signifies that true joy comes from divine revelation in that heart to heart relationship with God, that stays in followship of God and joyfully realizes the fulfillment of God‘s promises, which always come with the trust and patient endurance that these Three Magi showed the world in their “Magi Moment”!
A Magi Moment Of Fulfilled Joy
The intensity of The Magi’s desire to follow the star that Christmas Eve and find the prophesied King, was huge, and when they didn’t give up and finally found baby Jesus on Christmas Day, their joy is not just a simple happiness, but an ecstatic, overwhelming sense of fulfillment and excitement. It truly defines the significance of the event that they witnessed, which was the birth of our Savior, Jesus, the long awaited Messiah! This is a contagious joy, the coming of the Messiah!
“Lord, you have multiplied the nation and given them overwhelming joy! They are ecstatic in your presence and rejoice like those who bring in a great harvest and those who divide up the spoils of victory!” Isaiah 9:3 TP
A Daily “Magi Moment” Have You Bowed?
Why is the joy of this Magi Moment so contagious? This “Magi Moment” serves as a model for all who seek Christ, illustrating the joy found in recognizing Jesus, and the true abandonment of worshiping Him heart to heart. Have You Bowed? Catch The Joy! Bow Your Heart Right Now Before King Jesus. Gift Him Your Life! Intentionally Develop Your Awe-God Worship This Christmas Season. 1st step out of bed is down, bow before God in reverence and awe and connect with Him heart-to-heart. Experience Intimacy With God. Create A “Magi Moment” Of Worship. Listen Up Below To This 7 Day Bow Encounter Challenge And Dig Deeper: https://thebridegroomscafe.com/7-day-bow-encounter/
“Let all the nations burst forth with praise; let everyone everywhere love and enjoy you! Then how glad the nations will be when you are their King. They will sing, they will shout, for you give true justice to the people. Yes! You, Lord, are the shepherd of the nations! Pause in his presence No wonder the peoples praise you! Let all the people praise you more! The harvest of the earth is here! God, the very God we worship, keeps us satisfied at his banquet of blessings. And the blessings keep coming! All the ends of the earth will give him the honor he deserves and be in awe of him!” Psalms 67:3-7 TPT
This psalm speaks of the nations being glad and singing for joy, reflecting the joy and awe of the Magi upon finding Jesus. We can intentionally develop our 1st step out of bed is down, bow before God in reverence and awe and connect with Him heart-to-heart. Experience Intimacy With God. Create A “Magi Moment” Of Worship.
God Still Shows Up Where Not Expected
“In the noise, in the ache, in the waiting. He chooses the ordinary and fills it with glory. The same Jesus who entered the world in obscurity still enters the hidden parts of our hearts today. He makes His dwelling in us. The Word became flesh then and now, His Word is still becoming alive in you.” A Very Maverick Christmas
Magi Moment! A Kingdom Perspective!
What would make you ecstatic with joy right now? Is it something in this world or something I found in a kingdom perspective? Think About It! Why did we seek after Jesus? What will lead us to our “Magi Moment”? A moment where we bow before Jesus and worship him with all of our life. A moment where we joyfully yield everything to Him. Think on this today: Our Magi Moment. Do we still seek Jesus with the same intentionality that the Magi had? Do we have those life-changing moments, those moments be patiently endure and choose to follow after Jesus? Do we bow before our King, and have those “Magi Moments” of joyful worship, heart to heart with God? God’s Sovereignty is happening all around us. Would we take the time to be aware of Him, less distracted, and fully focused on Jesus this Christmas. God’s purposes are in play, will we see them. He is doing something new. Will we see the “Magi Moment”!
“The bright star in the dark sky has become one of the symbols of Christmas and new hope for believers around the world. Even non-believers will often put a star at the top of their tree in celebration. Christians should use this symbol as a way to share the gospel, the good news about the reason that Christmas is celebrated. Through this “Magi Moment” that first Christmas you see the sovereign ruler ship of God, who is in control of every detail. He controls the astronomical signs. The arrival of the Magi and the timing of Jesus’ birth demonstrate God’s control over history and His ability to use various people and events to accomplish His purposes. God supernaturally in control of nature, used this star, whether a natural or unnatural phenomenon, to guide the magi so they could provide the appropriate gifts for the young Messiah, and so they could testify to His arrival.” Biblehub
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you. For look, darkness will cover the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the Lord will shine over you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to your shining brightness. ” Isaiah 60:1-3 CSB
Right before our eyes we have the scripture that foretells what happened when the Magi comes to the light of Israel. This is an Awe-God Moment For us to create a personal Magi Moment of worship and reverence! After our “Magi moments” of worshiping God, of adoring Him for who He is, we shake off the worldly doldrums and embrace Jesus, and our hearts are wide open for whatever way He wants to guide us. We saw that with the Magi’s Journey.What does their “Magi Moment” show us is possible for us too?
A Question For Us This Christmas Eve
This Christmas Eve, will we be a Magi, willing to follow “The Star” or will we be distracted by a worldly viewpoint. A Kingdom Perspective from the scriptures challenges us to consider our own response to Christ’s lordship in our lives. We must yield to God to have our best “Magi Moment”. The Best Magi Moment Is Yielding To God!
Let’s have our best Magi Moments of ecstatic joy, as we yield our lives to Jesus Christ, our yes, on the table with Him from the moment we bow before Him each morning till we thank Him before we go to bed at night to realize a deep sleep, peacefully, in His hope and joy. Yes, we see that in the Scriptures and it teaches us that to have the best “Magi Moment” we can be like the Magi that first Christmas by not focusing completely on our culture craziness (worldly viewpoint) like the Magi who did not yield all the wordly detriments, they yielded to God first. Yes we must yield (Y.es I. E.mbrace L.ordship D.aily) to God’s Kingdom Perspective to have our best “Magi Moment” this Christmas. Yielding To God, Bowing Our Lives Before Him In Wordhip Is Our Best “Magi Moment”
Pray It Up To The Father God
We Came Home To Love 💕 For all those with estranged family members We pray that our family of God never gives up on each other… and those family members who are separated from God and from their families will come home to His heart of love… as you listen to this song, pray for your family members who need to be held by the love of God and family, fully embraced in the heart of God and family!
Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.” Colossians 1:9-12 MSG
When our lives are heart to heart with God in personal relationship with Him, and we are in a worshiping relationship with Him, adoring him for who he is and standing in Awe of Him, we have set ourselves up to be guided by our Father God, and we will not lack any good thing that we need. Whether it be guidance or deliverance from evil or provision for our lives, we will have it in abundance. We must stay aware from moment to choice, not to be distracted by the cultural hustle-bustle stress, and miss out on the “Magi Moments” of heart to heart worship which will lead us to ecstatic joy. Come Home To Jesus This Christmas And To His Family! We pray for all of us to COME To JESUS, our families, our neighborhoods, our nations.
“Drink deeply of the pleasures of this God. Experience for yourself the joyous mercies he gives to all who turn to hide themselves in him. Worship in awe and wonder, all you who’ve been made holy! For all who fear him will feast with plenty. Even the strong and the wealthy grow weak and hungry, but those who passionately pursue the Lord will never lack any good thing.” Psalm 34:8-10
Go and have some Joyful Magi Moments as you Yield to God everyday, moment to choice and acknowledge like the Magi did win their moment of worship: That’s My King!
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Thank you for stopping into The Bridegroom’s Cafe. We pray you were completely spiritually nourished by this meal at the Uniquely Inspired Table. God bless you, KimberlyMac, Author