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The Joy of Discovery
Scripture Reading — Luke 2:15-16
The shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
— Luke 2:15
My children enjoy making Christmas presents for each other. Especially when they were younger, a big part of our family celebration involved exchanging food containers repurposed into Matchbox car garages, doll beds, and other treasures. As these gifts were opened, we eagerly anticipated the joy of discovering what each child had crafted and given to the others.
Like the Magi (see Dec. 16), the shepherds who learned about the Savior’s birth experienced a “joy of discovery.” This kind of joy can lead people to look at what God has done and to wonder what God will do next.
The joy of discovery led the shepherds to respond to the angel's message by saying to one another, “Let's go . . . and see this thing that . . . the Lord has told us about.” They were eager to look for more signs and evidence of God's work. They “hurried off” to find things just as the Lord had said they would be.
What have you discovered God doing in your life lately? How can you foster an eager expectation that leads you to say, “I wonder what God will do next”?
Discovering God's work involves seeking the glory of God in unexpected places—even in a baby placed in a manger because there was no guest room available for him.
Heavenly Father, thank you for surprising us with your goodness and mercy in unexpected ways. May we eagerly respond by seeking Jesus in every aspect of our lives. Amen.
About the author — Joel Vande Werken
Joel Vande Werken is the director of ecclesiastical governance for the Christian Reformed Church in North America in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He served for over seventeen years as a church pastor in Sussex, New Jersey, and in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, before moving to Michigan in 2024. He and his wife, Brandie, have five children.
Scripture Reading — Luke 2:15-16
The shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
— Luke 2:15
My children enjoy making Christmas presents for each other. Especially when they were younger, a big part of our family celebration involved exchanging food containers repurposed into Matchbox car garages, doll beds, and other treasures. As these gifts were opened, we eagerly anticipated the joy of discovering what each child had crafted and given to the others.
Like the Magi (see Dec. 16), the shepherds who learned about the Savior’s birth experienced a “joy of discovery.” This kind of joy can lead people to look at what God has done and to wonder what God will do next.
The joy of discovery led the shepherds to respond to the angel's message by saying to one another, “Let's go . . . and see this thing that . . . the Lord has told us about.” They were eager to look for more signs and evidence of God's work. They “hurried off” to find things just as the Lord had said they would be.
What have you discovered God doing in your life lately? How can you foster an eager expectation that leads you to say, “I wonder what God will do next”?
Discovering God's work involves seeking the glory of God in unexpected places—even in a baby placed in a manger because there was no guest room available for him.
Heavenly Father, thank you for surprising us with your goodness and mercy in unexpected ways. May we eagerly respond by seeking Jesus in every aspect of our lives. Amen.
About the author — Joel Vande Werken
Joel Vande Werken is the director of ecclesiastical governance for the Christian Reformed Church in North America in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He served for over seventeen years as a church pastor in Sussex, New Jersey, and in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, before moving to Michigan in 2024. He and his wife, Brandie, have five children.
