The Blessing of Advent: Joy

There's a passage in Scripture that is often read during Advent about an angel that shows up to shepherds and says,

"I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Luke 2:10-11 NIV

This passage reminds us of a truth that many of us know well: the good news of Jesus causes great joy. Because of all that Jesus did, through his death, burial and resurrection, he made it possible for all people to be restored to a right relationship with God and to live the life that God had dreamed for human beings. 

The good news about Jesus causes great joy if we believe it, if we accept it. 

Jonathan Edwards (the pastor, theologian and some say America’s greatest philosopher) said that when we experience joy, we are most nearly approaching God's natural state. When you interact with God and grasp His goodness, even amidst the suffering and brokenness of the present world, you experience joy. 

Ann Robertson has researched the etymology of the Greek word translated as ‘joy’ in the English language. She wrote that this word was used by the ancient Greeks to describe a culmination of being and the good mood of the soul. With that, we understand that joy is the good mood of the soul regardless of circumstances. God exists in a state of divine joy even though everything in His world is not going the way that He intended for it to go, at least not yet. He knows that His love for humanity and care for the world will culminate in things being the way He meant for them to be.

The great news is that when we know Him, we can have that same joy. When we know Him, we are made right with God and connected to His purpose--because Jesus is the Savior. He came to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Only when we know this and we place our faith in Him, can we experience great joy. 

Adapted from The Lord Bless You (Chosen) by Terry A. Smith. All rights reserved.