JOY TO THE WORLD

“There’s no better time of the year to enjoy the color that enhances our streets. At no other time of the year do the faces of little children glow with such wonder. And there’s nothing like the music of Christmas! They’re playing our songs in grocery stores, elevators, shopping malls, and on every radio station: ‘Joy to the world! The Lord is come.’ They’re talking about our Savior. It’s our message on their lips. Have you noticed? Don’t miss that!” – Chuck Swindoll.

Joy. Everyone wants it. Marketing companies know this all too well. Every commercial promises some joy if you use their product. If you want the joy of sleeping well, then buy our mattress. Want the joy of eating something delicious, then eat at our restaurant. Want the joy of driving a luxury vehicle than purchase our car and so on. Every commercial portrays the image of a joy-filled person. Everyone promises it, but only Jesus is the source of real joy.   

The joy offered by God is different than the one promised at the car dealership or at the restaurant. God is not interested in giving you shallow happiness that melts in the heat of adversity. But He offers you a deep-seated, heart-felt joy that can weather the most difficult storms.

Can you imagine the joy Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds had on that first Christmas morning? The circumstances were not good. Mary and Joseph were far from home, in a strange town without a room where Mary could give birth to the Child. The Bible doesn’t tell us this, but you can see where the joy of Joseph and Mary could have been the most incredible world has ever seen because it came from God and was centered in the birth of the Savior. You, too, can have this joy.

Today, you may be leaking joy; you may feel like you’ve had a joy bypass done and feel discouraged. The good news is joy is findable. It can be obtained.  “…In Your presence is fullness of joy.…” (Psalm 16:11, AMP). The joy we seek, the consistency and persistence, regardless of what is going on in our lives, is found in Jesus. Spend time talking to Him. Spend time in His presence. Thank Him for His mercy, His kindness, and His forgiveness. When you seek Him, you will find Him. And you’ll discover joy.

Joy doesn’t accidentally happen. Joy happens when we make a choice. We choose to trust God. These wise men in Matthew 2:10, “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!”  They didn’t just have joy. They expressed it. Joy is a choice. When we choose joy, we can have a joyful heart in even the most challenging circumstances.

Find your joy today in God’s presence, and believe that joy is possible.

Discussion Questions:

1. What deflates joy for you? What joy substitute do you use?
2. Describe your thoughts and reflections on how the gospel is designed to bring us “great joy.”
3. What is the difference between the world’s version of joy and the Bible’s version of “great joy”?