Our church has partnered with Operation Christmas Child for over twenty years. This means that during the early part of November, we open our doors to people bringing shoeboxes lovingly filled with carefully selected presents for children living in some of the poorest parts of the world. It’s humbling to think that these shoeboxes contain the only Christmas gifts many of these youngsters will ever receive.
On Shoebox Sunday, we pray over the boxes before they are collected, and we watch videos showing the unbridled joy on the children’s faces when they receive their gifts. It is a far cry from the reaction of some children in the UK who have so much that they sometimes forget how to be grateful and become frustrated over the things they didn’t receive.
It seems fitting to think about Operation Christmas Child today because during the third week of advent, we traditionally focus on joy, and in particular, the joy of the shepherds who were the first to hear the good news of Jesus’ birth.
These ordinary men were terrified when an angel suddenly lit up the night sky, but their fear soon turned to rejoicing when the angel shared his good news and sang with the heavenly chorus.
Such was their eagerness to see baby Jesus that the shepherds left their sheep and rushed to find him. They then became the first Christian evangelists, telling everyone within earshot about the message of the angels and the birth of the baby king.
I think we could all learn a lot from the joy of the shepherds, and from the beautiful children in deprived countries who cry tears of joy over flannels, toothbrushes, and soap.
Prayer
Lord, we ask that you might fill us this Christmastime with the joy of the shepherds. May it bubble up inside us, until we feel compelled to share it with everyone we meet. Also, please teach us more about the simple joy of giving.
Song: Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy) by Chris Tomlin
Scriptures to Ponder
Acts 20: 35: “And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Luke 2: 10-11: “but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!