The Advent of Christmas: Week 3

This week we focus on JOY! Are joy and happiness the same thing? I would say not, for a couple of reasons. In America, our forefathers made it a point to say we could indulge in “the pursuit of happiness.” That would imply action on our part, and I appreciate that sentiment.

On the other hand, joy is more of a spiritual value, something within us that does not depend on outward circumstances.

Out of curiosity, I took a detailed look at my *Strong’s Concordance. If you have one, you know the print is so small you almost need a magnifying glass to read it, but here’s what I found: Joy had one hundred sixty-five listings. In contrast, happy had only twenty-six.

In the spirit of Advent, let’s now consider JOY. My thesaurus says it's an inner contentment or satisfaction. Perhaps that's why joy is a gift to the poor as well as the rich . . . it does not depend on circumstances.

I keep thinking of Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT. Believers are being encouraged to run their spiritual race with endurance. Paul’s example is Jesus, who because of the joy awaiting him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame.

What better example of JOY as an inner quality? His crucifixion would certainly not be a source of joy or happiness! Jesus trusted His Father completely and had hope beyond the grave.

God sent Jesus into the world as Savior. People who believe in Him (John 3:16-21), receive another gift, the Holy Spirit. He indwells them and produces spiritual fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 lists nine, JOY being one of them.

In Creation, natural fruit shows promise as a tiny bud then gradually grows until it becomes obvious which fruit it is. Our spiritual lives grow and mature over time, too.   

Consider this proposal.  **Joy to the World! The Lord is come! Reverend Isaac Watts wrote this song as a hymn of praise in 1719. Then people turned it into a Christmas song, and why not?

It contains an enduring invitation: Let every heart prepare Him room.

Let’s do it! This Christmas let’s open our hearts anew to the Joy of Jesus, a gift from God like no other.

*The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D., copyright 1984, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.

**Joy to the World, Author: Isaac Watts (1719), hymnary.org

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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