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Joy in Christ
Have you ever noticed how many Christmas carols use the word joy?
Jesus has come to bring us God’s joy. Many passages in Scripture bear
witness to this. The angel says to Mary:
You will have joy and
gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. Luke 1:14
A pregnant Elizabeth, Mary’s
relative, bears witness to this as she tells Mary: For as soon as I
heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.
Luke 1:44
When the baby arrives, the
shepherds are told by the angel: Do not be afraid; for see — I am
bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. Luke 2:10
The wise men are also delighted by this child:
When they saw that the
star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. Matthew 2:10
Throughout his life,
Jesus continues to bring joy. This is an important part of his
mission. I have said these things to you, he told his
disciples, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy
may be complete. John 15:11
And in this letter to the
leaders of early churches in Asia Minor, the author discusses the joy
of faith in Jesus: Although you have not seen him, you love him;
and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice
with an indescribable and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8
Certainly, this applies also to
us. Drawing nearer to Christ is the pathway to lasting happi-ness. How
important it is, then, that we attend to this vital relationship. Who
couldn’t use more indescribable and
glorious joy?
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