Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
A couple years ago I strained my MCL while playing ultimate frisbee. As I made a turn to maneuver across the field, only part of my body obeyed while the other half slipped on the wet grass. Down I went! After I straightened my awkwardly bent leg, I realized two things quite quickly: 1) I was done playing for that day and probably for the remainder of the summer, and 2) My body really did have those things called “ligaments” I had heard about and now was feeling quite intensely. Up until that moment, I had only ever taken my knees for granted, assuming I had all the right parts and that they were working just as God designed. I had never felt an MCL.
Now JOY.
Joy is here because Jesus came. We will not feel it, and we cannot generate it or pursue it. We do not manufacture it or manipulate it. Joy is here because Jesus came. It is not an emotion; it will not be a feeling. It is based upon the biblical, theological and historical evidence of Jesus’ birth and prophecies fulfilled. Read the Psalms. Read James 1. Read Acts 5 or Romans 5. There is a reason these saints can experience tribulations and still rejoice through suffering. Their hope is above this earthly landscape and upon the horizon of redemption offered in Christ. They choose to abide by the reality of the Incarnation, the cross and the empty tomb and that makes all the difference in their perspective on life. When we peer through those lenses, things of this world begin to grow strangely dim.
Joy is here because Jesus came!
All too often we treat joy like it’s a Christmas cookie: add the sugar, mix the flour, pour the milk, stir the frosting and jingle BAM! . . . . Christmas Joy! Get all the right ingredients together and finally we can arrive to that illusive sense of tranquil serendipity only found in twinkle lights and TSO (visit the Clifton Mill in December and you’ll know what I’m talking about!).
But, similar to our ligaments and bones –just because we don’t always feel it, JOY remains because God sent His Son who became the propitiation (substitutionary atonement) for our sins.
JOY exists because Jesus exists. JOY is obtainable because Jesus is available.
And when we know our sins are forgiven, we will trade our cynicism for new hope, our mockery for informed faith, and sentimental emotionalism for true biblical JOY.
How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
Psalm 32:1 (CSB)
Glorify. Train. Engage. 