And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people ~ Luke 2:10.
Introduction
That season of the year is here again when many people become overtly elated that they made it thus far in the course of the year. Usually, Christmas is a very exciting time but, sometimes, it can also be so busy and stressful for many people and for many reasons.
For example, at this season, there is a heightened consciousness of so many underlying issues of socio-spiritual concern: security, finances, dreams and aspirations, and so on. Besides, it is very hard to simply please some people at Christmas, especially young children. No matter how much you care, you may never do enough to satisfy their restless spirits.
The season, otherwise called the Season of Advent in ecclesiastical circles, refers to the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. It is unlike any other season all through the annals of time, and it prompts us to pause each day in December and remember why Jesus came to the world.
Christmas is a time to become more resolute in our desires to experience more of God in all areas of our lives, to interrogate some of our habitual lifestyles, and to pray for certain fundamental shifts in our lives. Anyhow, in this season, its quite important for us to refreshingly cultivate great joy in our hearts as we openly celebrate it as a timeless gift that humanity received at first Christmas.
Understanding Happiness Versus Real Joy at Christmas
What is joy? Is it the same as happiness? What are its distinct characteristics? What’s the real source of joy? And, how can we make the most of it?
Joy and happiness may appear to be the same, but in the fine sense of it, they’re not. They can coexist side-by-side, but they are different. Happiness is circumstantial, it comes from outside a person whereas joy resides and wells forth from within. Moreover, unlike happiness, you cannot extract joy from a bottle!
To be happy, something has to happen to you. You can be happy because you got a new job, or because someone just blessed you with a dream gift. You can also be happy because you heard a piece of good-news, or you have some money in the bank and can now afford to buy something you need. You could even be very happy if your favorite team wins the World Cup!
Happiness is a sense of achievement over something. As a by-product of happenings and events around us, happiness is a passing emotion. Yes, it feels very good while the good times last, howbeit it is still transitory.
Happiness, therefore, does not and cannot satisfy the restlessness of the human soul, which supernaturally longs for something deeper than fleeting pleasures. We were made for the Lord; hence, our hearts are restless until they find true joy in Him (Colossians 1:16; 1 Peter 2:9).
On the other hand, real joy is a gift residing within a person that bubbles from the deep recesses of the human soul. It is a sense of wellbeing, a permanent and an abiding presence felt deeply within (John 15:11).
One of the greatest ironies about joy is that it can co-exist alongside human sorrow. Joy and sorrow are inseparable; real joy cannot be dampened by human sorrow. In fact, the deeper the hollow carved by sorrow on a human soul, the more joy it can contain.
For example, a mother experiences an initial pang of sorrow at the time of delivery, but that does not rob her of the greater joy of bringing new life into the world. Moreover, Jesus Christ experienced great sorrow on the Cross, but that did not dim His joy of completing His glorious mission of redeeming humankind.
Joy is the true foundation for every good success. It is that inner force, strength and excitement that drives you to do whatever needs to be done. The power to successfully sail through the channel in-between the devil and the blue sea, and to accomplish much in spite of the many difficulties, is in the joy we have in doing it.
Jesus Christ is the Root and the Actual Source of Joy
Jesus Christ is the Centerpiece of the subject of great joy in the entire scriptures. To encounter Him genuinely is to arouse a great and an abiding joy by His indwelling Spirit (Colossians 1:27). Jesus came to the earth to give us joy, hence the gospel is referred to as good-news or good-tidings (Matthew 2:10).
Furthermore, joy is a choice, not just a random feeling. You may not always be happy, but you can always be joyful in Christ Jesus. The most joyful people don’t have to have the best of everything; they just know how to make the best of everything.
Joy is a decision that we have to make each day by choosing to rely upon the Holy Spirit, moment by moment of our lives. Thereafter, we will become enabled to truly enjoy every day of our lives (Psalm 118:24).
Friends, joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit that comes naturally to us as God’s children. Naturally, children don’t need a reason to be joyful. For them, being alive is enough. Similarly adults, who are born-again and have truly become God’s children, are supernaturally enabled for great joy (Luke 18:17).
Flowing from the above, there is no better gift to share with others this Christmas, or any other time of the year, than Jesus Christ, the One who implants the gift of great joy in every believing heart, and has repeatedly stirred joy in heaven over sinners that repent and embrace the unspeakable love of God bestowed upon mankind through Him.
Assuredly, Christmas has been the real worldwide kernel of joy over the ages. Why? The gift of joy borne by the birth of the Saviour is a spiritual antidote to diverse temptations, deprivations and depression (Proverbs 17:22). You can carry this gift with you wherever you go, and it will not abandon you no matter what!
This December, there shall be no disaster, no sorrow and no evil occurrence in your abode. If you would believe, this year shall end very well for you and yours, with good tidings of great joy, God’s faithfulness and the fatness of His mercy and favour.
The Lord will guide your feet into the way peace, and you will begin to enjoy new dimensions of divine calmness that dispels the gloom, in Jesus Name. Welcome to this beautiful season of great joy! Merry Christmas and happy new year in advance, in Jesus name. Happy Sunday!
** Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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