Hi how are you today? I am well but have had a busy week full of situations which required Gods wisdom and Gods anointing power. If I didn’t have them, I would have fallen in a heap. The situations were complex and/ or a bit tough. Let’s see what this week brings.
This leads to the topic this week on joy. We have just remembered resurrection Sunday where first there was lots of confusion then unspeakable joy as the disciples saw and heard the resurrected Jesus. This was a time they wouldn’t forget and a lot of their strength later on in their Bible writings emanated from that very event.
They had seen Jesus die but then they witnessed Him risen. Great strength comes from miraculous events. So what does this mean for us? Can we carry that same joy? What does joy even mean? We know that it is not the same word as happiness so it must have a different meaning.
Joy in the Oxford Dictionary means a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. It is expanded happiness. Joy in the Bible means something different. It is the word chara which means a lasting emotion that comes from the choice to trust that God will fulfill his promises.
Joy is an emotion but while it can be fleeting depending on circumstances, real biblical joy comes from choosing to trust God. Joy is a feeling and a choice.
In Nehemiah 8:10 it states in part that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Joy comes when we trust God in everything. We are not joyful for our circumstances but in them.
This is the reason the disciples remembered the resurrection. It was an event that proved to them that the promises of God are true and will come to pass.
In the Old Testament, memorial stones were used to remember certain events. Every time someone walked past them, they remembered the goodness and faithfulness of God. In the New Testament, communion is our remembrance tool. It reminds us not only of what Jesus did for us but that all Gods promises around the coming Messiah came to pass.
This week, it is time for us to get the fruit of the Spirit of joy in our lives. Joyful people attract questions about our lives and the reason. I know some of you are facing hard things. Let’s remember what Jesus did for us and let joy be a choice we make to trust God in everything.
Joy in Sunday School meant Jesus, others, yourself in priority order. But I think it means so much more. A deep trust in God that He loves us and has a good plan for our lives and that His promises are true.
Have a great week and keep living the life God intended for you.
Bless you
Karen
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