Join in the Joy
Through the years, I have frequently preached about joy. It is more than an emotion (although it includes emotion); rather, it is a settled attitude, a stable and sturdy approach to life that focuses us on the things that matter now and forever. Joy is much greater and much more powerful than happiness, which is event or circumstance driven. There is nothing wrong with happiness. It is certainly better than unhappiness. Also, we have different personalities. For example, my wife is happy-go-lucky. Of course, she has every reason to be, being married to me. However, not everyone can be married to me. We need something more substantial than happiness; that something is joy. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
We have seen that, because God is the source of joy, we as His people should also be sources of joy. It follows that we should share in the joy of others. Moreover, joy to the end must be our deep desire. In Acts 20:24, Paul states his great goal: “that I might finish my course with joy.” The poignancy of this passage is powerful, for Paul knew these people from Ephesus well, having spent three years ministering to and with them. He opens up his heart to these fellow believers. Some newer translations unfortunately miss the note of joy in this bittersweet moment; it was not a happy time (verses 37-38), and Paul’s challenging life would become even harder as he would be arrested in Jerusalem and taken to Rome for trial. This first imprisonment lasted a couple of years. Thus, Paul’s missionary travels would be placed on hold, and he would suffer the indignities and limitations of unjust confinement. Still, he intended to complete the ministry that God had set before him. However many years we have left, is this one of our deepest desires? It should be, for joy is from God, is good and great, and awaits us each day, including that eternal day.