Scripture to reflect upon
- John 15:11,
- Luke 2:10-11,
- Rom 15:13,
- Ps 32:11,
- Phil 4:4,
- Phil 3:1,
Devotional thought
Joy is a type of disposition that is rooted in the choices we make daily to remain hopeful and dependent upon our Savior, Jesus Christ. In the Christmas story found in Luke chapter 2, when the Angel appeared to the Shepherds, they were told not to be afraid because he brings them good news that will bring great joy to many people (Luke 2:8-14).
The Shepherds had a choice to make right then on whether to believe this angel, remain fearful, or to take courage and be filled with joy at the message he was giving them. The message was this, “Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11). This was what was to bring great joy to many people! Does this message of a Christ being born bring you joy still today?
Joy is a choice!
Today we also have a decision to make on whether that news of a Savior being born will bring us great joy or not. Has that news been a source of joy to you? Have you submitted to Jesus as your Christ, or Lord?
It is going to be really difficult to have a disposition of joy when the source of joy is not living within us! So, if you are really struggling to find joy right now, maybe you need to ask the question of whether you have received the gift of salvation from the Savior that was born to us to forgive us of our sins (Matt. 1:21). Is it possible that you are not currently living by faith, fully reliant upon the Savior to be Lord of every area of your life? This surely will rob your life of the joy that Christ came to give you in full measure!
In the list laid out by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4 to describe christian practices, he starts out by exhorting us to Rejoice always – again he says to rejoice! He goes on to list things like; being gentle, praying, not to live with anxiety, being thankful, and so-on, but his initial call is for us to rejoice!
We have the choice to make in each situation that we face, to worry or to trust, to despair or rejoice, to rely on our strength or to pray and rely upon our God’s unlimited strength. Let’s choose to be full of joy as we rely upon God through praying to Him and trusting the outcomes of each situation to Him!
Joy is a byproduct of the Gospel!
Everyone likes good news, and that is what the Gospel is – Good News! When the Angel said that a Savior is born to us, that was the best news to a people who were waiting for God to send the Deliverer. The Gospel is the very thing that grants us justification (a legal term that means to be declared legally righteous), forgiveness of our sins, peace, hope, love, faith, eternal life, etc. The person that has these things applied to their life is blessed and should be full of joy!
Ps. 32:11 says, “Rejoice in the Lord and be happy, you who are godly! Shout for joy, all you who are morally upright!” When was the last time you shouted for joy? Was it when your favorite sports team had that awesome game winner last week, or when you received a gift that you really wanted, or when you seen someone that you have been away from for a very long time?
I submit to you that if we are deficient of joy in our lives, then I really believe that we must go back and rehearse the Gospel message to ourselves until joy is restored! The Gospel is the source of our Joy, so we must keep reminding ourselves of the Good News of the Savior in order to have complete joy in our lives.
Questions for Reflection
- When was the last time you rejoiced in the Lord as it says in Philippians 3:1?
- When was the last time the reality of being completely forgiven put a smile on your face?
- Do you get butterflies in your stomach when you considered the reality that God calls you His child, and adopted you into His eternal family?
- When was the last time you considered what your life without God would be, and the impact that Jesus is having in your life now?
- Allow those questions to sink in and examine the level of joy you are experiencing in your life.
Prayer
Dear God, I praise You for having a storehouse of joy ready to be poured out on anyone who looks to You for a joy that rises above our circumstances! You truly are a wonderful God, and I rejoice in the work of salvation that You have done in my life. I ask that You would bless me with the ability to live a joyful, God-centered life. Thank You Lord for restoring my joy now. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
