With the lighting of the candle of Joy last Sunday, our waiting and the anticipation of the coming of Jesus Christ is at hand. Today let’s continue to prepare our hearts for His arrival by focusing on the joy of the Lord.
As Christmas day dawns in a little less than two weeks, many of you will find happiness enjoying a lovely Christmas meal with family or friends, exchanging presents, treasuring loved ones and fondly remembering those no longer with us. Others may well experience feelings of melancholy or sorrow for many different reasons; 2020 has been like no other year. The truth is – joy will be there regardless. It is an indescribable gift, and the choice is ours to experience this joy by trusting in God; because He is always with us – at our happiest and at our lowest.
John 16:23-24 (MSG) “This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!”
We have a God who loves us more than anyone can imagine, and the joy God gives us is an attitude of the heart and spirit, our outlook on life – loving family, being kind, enjoying the beauty of creation. When I think about the people God has put in my life, who they are and what they’ve done, it brings me joy.
God is full of joy –
“ We should, first, think that God leads a very interesting life, and that he is full of joy. Undoubtedly he is the most joyous being in the universe. The abundance of his love and generosity is inseparable from his infinite joy. All of the good and beautiful things from which we occasionally drink tiny droplets of soul-exhilarating joy, God continuously experiences in all their breath and depth and richness.”
The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard – God’s Joyous Being
I believe that God finds joy in the ways that we His children use the challenges of life and sometimes its suffering to deepen our faith to draw closer to Him. Every step we take along the journey toward living in God’s Kingdom gives us strength and brings joy and rejoicing to the heart of God. When we are selfless and there for each other, when we view a situation positively, or when we experience gratitude; it is then, through these actions, that we nurture God’s gift and we just can’t help but radiate true joy.
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11-NIV).
On that first Christmas, the Magi saw the star of Bethlehem. That star reminds us that God’s love and joy is for everyone at all times. Jesus came to be the Savior of the world for all mankind. We have to believe in Jesus and His saving work with our whole hearts. We need to rejoice in the Lord – in His presence, in His joy and in the gift of salvation. God is the source of our joy; and joy is worthy of celebrating this Advent!
“The Lord your God is in your midst,
A Warrior who saves.
He will rejoice over you with joy;
He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins],
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
(Zephaniah 3:17-AMP)
Remember that the joy we have in Christ is not seasonal or situational, dependent on happiness or sadness, meant for only a few – like the joy of the ancient Israelites, our joy is a response to what God has already done and continues to do. It’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit – and therefore, when we have the Spirit in our heart we need to be living with joy in our lives. This Advent and beyond, be joyful because our Lord is always with us.
Let’s Pray:
Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!'
Amen.
- Henri J.M. Nouwen
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