If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. - John 15:10-12.
A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers. Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy! - Psalm 126:1-3
According to Reuters News Service reporter Ciara Lee, “Toymaker Lego doubled its earnings over the first six months of the year as customers flocked to its reopened stores to buy Star Wars building sets and flower bouquets made from its colourful plastic bricks.”
The main protagonists in this increased volume in sales? Adults. Part of the increase is due to the Fox TV series: Lego Masters. Yes, there is a popular, fun and entertaining television series about people building incredible scenes simply out of “bricks” - hip lingo for Lego pieces.
Before you discard the first two paragraphs and look at it as silly - “People should grow up and act like adults!” - might we remind you that Jesus came to bring us joy? JOY! Laughter! Happiness! Yes, Christians should be invaded and overwhelmed by JOY!
Joy is a beautiful word. Yet, what does it mean? In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word is שִׂמְחָה - simchah. It is translated as the following: delight, exceeding joy, festival, gladness, happiness, joy, mirth, pleasure, rejoice, rejoicing. In the New Testament, the Greek term is χαρά - chara. It means: extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed – properly speaking it refers to being aware of/recognizing God's grace, favor; joy.
Joy is a foundational gift of the Lord for his people. What do we mean by that? Joy is not based on how you feel nor is it dependent upon the situation you find yourself in. Joy is a gift to be received, utilized and employed in your life. There is enough complaining, criticizing, griping and grumbling in the world already! AND IT SHOULD NEVER BE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST!
Remember what happened in Numbers 11? If not, allow us to refresh your memory. After all the miracles the children of Israel had seen God do in Egypt, including the parting of the Red Sea so that they could walk through on dry land and then swallow their enemies whole, they still complained so bitterly that God heard a constant rumbling from their encampment in the wilderness. Probably not what their Savior wanted to hear by the way…nor does ours.
The Isrealites complained about food and water. When they had manna from heaven, they complained they had no meat. They grumbled and rebelled against Moses’ leadership. Aaron and Miriam, Moses’ siblings, complained about Zipporah, Moses’ wife. The people even complained about God’s judgment that resulted from their complaints! Sound familiar?
There was a conference at a Presbyterian church. People were given helium filled balloons and told to release them during the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. When it was over 1/3 of the balloons were unreleased. (Bruce Larson, Luke, p. 43.) That is the epitome of what is at the heart of so many Christians. No joy. And that, our friends, is sad.
Since Jesus came to bring us joy and to complete our joy, we should take a closer look at that gift. Perhaps you are encountering rough waters presently. Maybe your life is not what you hoped it would be. The case may be that everything in your life is topsy-turvy and everyone seems to have abandoned you. But remember - that is one point of view. Yours.
Dr. R.B. Ouellette tells of a Russian countess who believed in Jesus as her Saviour and was open about her testimony. The Tsar was displeased and threw her into prison. After 24 hours with the lowest level of Russian society, in the most miserable conditions imaginable, he ordered her brought into his presence. He smiled sardonically and said, “Well, are you ready now to renounce your silly faith and come back to the pleasures of the court?”
To his surprise, the countess smiled serenely and said, “I have known more real joy and more real happiness in one day in prison with Jesus than I have known in a lifetime in the courts of the Tsar.” Where you are at or how you feel never dictate the presence or absence of joy.
Where does your joy come from? Or, rather, for some, what is the cause of your lack of joy? And, no, you cannot blame others. If Jesus gave you his joy then no one - and we repeat - no one is able to take it away. The only person who can take it away is the person who received it. You. Blame solely rests upon the recipient who rather than unwrapping and enjoying this free gift, complains about the wrapping paper, all the tape around it, the size of the box, and then tosses it aside to find another present more to their liking. Only you can reject or receive the Lord’s joy.
God’s word reminds us that “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” Nehemiah 8:10. If you are feeling weak, helpless, hopeless, discouraged, sorrowful, or miserable, might we offer a three letter word to lift you up, fill you with hope, to cheer and comfort you? JOY!
A final thought from the prophet Zephaniah, where one of our favorite verses in scripture found in chapter 3 says: “Cheer up...! Don’t be afraid! For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” If that doesn’t fill you with joy, nothing will! Now, go take some Legos from your kids, have some fun and build something.
Steve and Missy
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