This week’s Advent theme is joy. Joy is a multi-faceted thing often associated only with happy circumstances and bubbling personalities, but the Bible urges us to ‘rejoice always’ (1 Thess 5:16, Phil 4:4) and talks of the joy of the Lord being our strength (Neh 8:10). It is also categorical that joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), part of that nonahedron of fruit which forms one whole and enables our character to reflect God’s nature.
Isaiah urged God’s people to draw water from the wells of salvation with joy (Is 12:3) and the Christmas message is one of good news of great joy. (Luke 2:1-12) Ultimately, we can know joy regardless of our circumstances because joy comes from God and is found in His presence. (1 Chron 16:27, Ps 16:11) It is His gift to us (John 15:11) and because joy is ultimately centred on who God is and what He does, there are always reasons for rejoicing. Joy is like a multi-faceted diamond which shimmers and glistens in the light of who God is (loving, faithful, patient, kind, a generous giver of gifts as James reminds us in James 1:17) and His marvellous works on our behalf (see Ps 118:15).
