On Joy

Never let anyone or anything steal your joy. 

This is significant day in and day out.

You are a child of the Most High God!  You have the hosts of heaven helping you and the gates of heaven waiting for you.  Your sins, faults and failures are washed clean.  God is with you and for you.

Of course, you also have church meetings.  And Bible classes to prepare.  Deadlines for newsletters loom.  You were not where someone else thought you should be.  The things you learned at Seminary don’t seem to answer the questions you now have.  This is hard work.

Never let anyone or anything steal your joy.

There are things that need to be taken care of at home.  There are things that need to be taken care of in the office.  There are things that need to be taken care of in the world.  Oh, the things there are!

Never let anyone or anything steal your joy.

You will get tired.  You will get confused.  You will get hurt.  You will get tested and tempted.

Never let anyone or anything steal your joy.

Without joy you cannot carry on—for long.  Without joy you will become dry, brittle and bitter.  Without joy you will become a bane instead of a blessing to your family and congregation.

Where then joy?  In Jesus. 

Remember joy is different than happiness.  Happiness is based on… what happens.  Joy is centered in the grace and love God has for you in Jesus. 

I always liked the book of Habakkuk.  I can remember a Seminary prof quoting it in Hebrew.  I did not understand it in Hebrew, but I treasure it in English!  Habakkuk found joy in the presence, nature and promise of God.  Habakkuk 3:17-19 says it well:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

Never let anyone or anything steal your joy. 

Keep your eyes fixed on God, the hope you have in Jesus!