"Joy to the world! The Lord is come; let earth receive her King. Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns!" Isaac Watts 1674-1748
JOY! It's not just a song we sing at Christmas. What is it? The American Heritage Dictionary defines joy as: "1. (n) a condition or feeling of great pleasure or happiness; delight, and the expression or manifestation of such feeling; rejoice. 2. a source or object of pleasure or satisfaction." Our Father wants us to have great joy in Him. He wants us to take delight in Him. Psalm 21:6 says, "Surely, You have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of Your presence." There is joy in God's presence. Joy also gives us strength as Nehemiah said, "...for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Neh. 8:10). Our Father's desire for us is to have joy that outlasts our present circumstances. He wants to give us joy that surpasses our immediate happiness, joy that lasts.
In the gospel of Luke, we see that the Father prefaces Jesus' birth with an announcement of joy. "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.'" (Luke 2:10-11). Jesus is the Father's greatest joy and He should be our greatest joy also. He should be the object of our pleasure and satisfaction. How wonderful was the news of that night long ago that brought such joy, and how much more wonderful, that He came to die to remove the sting of death for us all! The shepherds rejoiced at the news that night and we should rejoice every day that Jesus went to the cross to die in our place and pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus is our source of joy that will outlast our temporal happiness. He, Himself, says, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:10-11) Let's look to Jesus to be our only source of JOY, not just at Chriatmas, but forever!
"Joyful, joyful we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Hail Thee as the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day."
(Henry Van Dyke arr. From Ludwig von Beethoven)
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