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The angel said to shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11, ESV).
Joy is supernatural.
The angels announced to the shepherds the birth of Jesus, born of a virgin, Son of God, and our Savior – there is nothing more miraculous. They also predicted that joy would be given to all people.
Joy is needed today.
The terms discouraged, fearful, anxiety, doubt, and despair describe our culture. Into this bleak landscape of frustration, Jesus says to each of us …
These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full (John 15:11).
Do we have joy? What steals our joy?
N.T. Wright is one of my favorite Bible scholars …
For me, the opposite of joy isn’t sadness; it’s cynicism – a sneaky bandit that robs my hopeful focus and settled state of gladness. I often find joyfulness elusive when I reach for it. Rather, as a fruit of the Spirit, joy is something God cultivates in us.
Our culture steals our joy by giving us cynicism instead of joy. From cynicism, we get discouragement, fear, anxiety, doubt, and despair.
The satanic ploy in our age is a “bait and switch” which entices us to complain about our past, the church, and often Biblical values. We might have good reasons as we list negative church experiences and shameful behavior of church leaders.
Yet, we become cynical.
We then lose the ability to be happy. We can’t trust anymore, and we doubt the truth – both of which are needed for joy.
Jesus warns …
So, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. So then, you will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:17, 20).
This “bad fruit” warning must be applied to our individual attitudes in following Jesus. We must sense cynicism before it takes root. Nothing wrong with honesty, but is it heading toward forgiveness and peace or a continued troubled heart?
I’ve asked myself for decades, “Why am I missing peace? What has stolen my joy?”
My answers range from the offenses of others, allowing false thinking, and even unfulfilled dreams. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and in my spirit, I can sense whether a situation, person, or experience is giving or taking my joy.
To keep joy, we must radically disconnect from what is stealing our joy!
I’ve found a series of Biblical words that can help us maintain joy. The words joy, grace, and gift all come from the same root word in the Greek. They are connected. In a sentence, we can say, “My joy comes from giving gifts of grace to others.”
Grace indicates a gift that isn’t deserved.
We didn’t deserve God’s grace, and often, to maintain our joy, we must give gifts of forgiveness, accommodation to people, and compassion to situations that are undeserving.
Finally, when I humble myself and listen to the Spirit after asking, “What has stolen my joy?” I’ve found that God reveals the answer and gives me grace too, because often, my actions and attitudes have stolen my peace.
Remember – gift, grace, joy. They are connected in the Bible. They are supernaturally given to those who ask.
Note from Pastor Grant – In preparation for Christmas, I’m writing several Interruptions entitled “Prophetic … .” I’m explaining the supernatural “prophetic” origin of these events in the birth of Jesus.