Share the Joy

You gain joy when you give joy.  

“Good news of great joy which shall

be for all people.”  Luke 2:10 NAS.

My thoughts today urge you to, “Share The Joy.”

“Merry Christmas.” Those words are a familiar greeting, but merry seems a bit underwhelming when referring to God coming into our world. I think “Joyous Christmas” is more like God would have us choose. This advent season, open your heart to be astounded by what Peter described as, “an inexpressible and glorious joy.” 1 Peter 1:8 NIV. Your  experience and expression of the Savior’s birth, life, and sacrifice deserve no less.

An angel appeared and announced to the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all people.” Luke 2:10 NAS. The good news is the same now as then, and so is the promise of great joy. However, Heaven’s joy did not originate on that first Christmas; the Incarnation simply dramatized the eternal purpose of the Father. A loving Father desired his creation to know inexpressible, glorious joy.

Creation is described as the time when, “the morning stars sang together, and all the Angels shouted for joy.” Job 38:7 NIV. That same eternal joy will fill your heart as you stand before God, “Who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24-25 NKJV.

Christmas’ celebration underscores the opportunity for experiencing His inexpressible joy every day. “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 NKJV. Great joy is yours, but never automatic. Joy is a gift God gives and a choice you make. Advent invites you to choose joy. Nurture joy; mature joy until the emotion becomes a disposition drawing on abiding, spiritual resources. “If you abide in Me . . that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.” John 15:7/11 NIV. You have His joy, completely! Now, share the joy you have received. Jesus promised, Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38.

And Jesus said that would come from Him and through the hands of others. I have learned a simple principle. You gain joy when you give joy. If we are silent about our joy at Christmas, why should the world be drawn at other times to the truth we share. It is this one man’s opinion. Christmas isn’t really Christmas until you share its joy with others.

A  joy-filled message from a joyless messenger is neither credible nor desirable. Sharing something you don’t have is impractical. Keeping something you won’t share is selfish. Those realities state a spiritual principle that applies to inexpressible and glorious joy, “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV.

When you give joy, you gain joy. Share the joy of Christmas every day, to every person in every imaginable way. Celebrate with abandon and without apology. Invite, include, involve, converse, welcome, laugh, love, express life, and be real. Celebrate joyously. Incarnate the joy of the timeless message in ways an unbelieving world cannot resist.

Joy is a gift God gives.  Joy is a choice you make.

“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 NKJV.

My prayer for you is to discover the abiding joy found in the Savior.

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