Choose Joy

12/8/2020

Hebrews 10:14 “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

The Christmas season is a joyous time of the year for many people. With all of its glitter and lights, bells and ornaments, and brightly colored paper and gifts, it is a feast for the eye and uplifting for the soul. These things all are just mere trappings, however wonderful they may be, and the joy they bring is temporary. There is only one true everlasting joy, and that begins with the true meaning of Christmas.

Today, someone shared with me how infectious the joy of her pastor was this past Sunday morning. She had honestly not experienced that kind of joy in anyone for a long time. It really hit me when she shared this, as I have also not seen a lot of joy this past year. We then spoke about choosing joy even in the midst of weariness and trouble. After all, the source of my joy should not be about the external situations or things around me. It should come from knowing the mercy and grace of my Savior. 1 Corinthians 1:30: “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” Chambers writes, “When we realize that Christ is made all this to us, the boundless joy of God begins; whenever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is at work.”

In the book of James – one of my favorites – in chapter 2 verses 2&3, James writes, “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” Endurance, in a physical sense, is achieved when you train your body to withstand pain and reach a goal. So it is worth enduring the pain of life’s trials, because with faith and trust in God we can triumph over them. If I can find joy in a temporal physical endurance, then shouldn’t I be able to find even more joy in the endurance of the spirit?

Jesus is our example of triumphing over the trials and evil of this world. He should always be the source of my joy, for through His sacrifice He has paid the price for my sin. What else could possibly be as important as that fact? Through the Perfect One I am sanctified. Chambers writes, “It does not matter who or what we are, there is absolute reinstatement into God by the death of Jesus Christ and by no other way, not because Jesus Christ pleads, but because He died. It is not earned, but accepted.”

So, because of my Savior’s mercy and love for me, I shall choose joy.