Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival.
Zephaniah 3:14-18
Jesus is coming. As this third week of Advent draws to a close we are aware that a week from today we will be celebrating the arrival of Christ. Preparations are coming to a close both in our homes and lives and in our hearts. As we approach the last week of Advent may we take a final look at joy. This passage in Zephaniah reminds us that the Lord has taken away judgments against us, he has protected us from our enemies, and we have nothing to fear. The Lord rejoices with us in gladness and renews us in his love. These truths about who God is and what he has done for us culminate in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May we live in the joy of the God who loves us and may we share that joy with all we meet this last week of Advent.
Action: Live into the joy of Christ this week by serving others.
Prayer: God of Advent joy, keep my eyes and heart open to signs of your coming. May I be joyously expectant, seeing your coming in a million ways. Amen.