Saturday
December 11, 2021
Joy and Proverbs
Good News
The Book of Proverbs is more than mere adages we repeat in moments of confusion or stress. They are universal metaphors that serve as anchors in a bewildering and sometimes tumultuous world. Many resources are available to understand these maxims and during this second week of Advent we will focus on the surprising power of the proverbs to reveal God’s truth to us. If this week’s exploration of Proverbs calls you to search for more ways to encounter joy, click on the word Joy in the categories cloud in the blog’s right hand sidebar and choose a reflection, or enter the word Joy in the blog search bar. Today we celebrate the joy of Good News.
In this second week of Advent we have found joy in dark places as we share proverbs. Today we remind ourselves that the hope of the Old Testament is fulfilled in the Word of the New Testament. And we remember that Jesus, God Among Us, is the incarnation of that promise and word.
Proverbs 15:23: One has joy from an apt response; a word in season, how good it is!
We have the choice each day to speak words that hurt or words that heal.
Matthew 4:23: Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
We have the choice each day to speak words that burden us or words that uplift.
Mark 1:14: Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
We have the choice each day to speak words that bring energy or words that sap strength.
Proverbs 15:30: A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart; good news invigorates the bones.
We have the choice each day to speak words that speak truth or words that lie.
Luke 8:1: Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God.
We have the choice each day to speak words of Good News or words of darkness.
Mark 16:15: And Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation”.
We continue our Advent journey, and today we pause to consider the power of God’s joy when we share the Good News that God has come to live among us.
For more information about anxiety and joy, visit: http://riselikeair.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/anxiety-joy-a-journey/
Image from: http://thirteenthree.org.au/blog/13/03/2011/the-gospel-is-good-news/
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