Monthly Archives: December 2021

On this final day of Advent we again consider joy, again in the form of rejoicing.

God sent an angel to be his messenger with the great news of the incarnation of the Son. This messenger informs young Mary that she was to bear the Son of God incarnate. Paul said the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in the man who would be named Jesus. The young woman’s reply is found in Luke’s Gospel:

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,’” (Luke‬ ‭1:46-47‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Her spirit rejoices!

As we wait for the celebration that comes tomorrow – celebrating the already…

and for the eternal celebration – the not yet…

… let us remember to rejoice in God our savior.

Advent, of which we are in the final days, is a time of waiting. We wait to celebrate the incarnation of the eternal Son of God, Jesus. But we also await his return to rule the new heavens and the new earth with justice. This already and not yet can be seen in Psalm 85.

The psalmist begins with “You showed…” and a few lines later our writer says “Restore us…”

Already.

Not yet.

I suggest you look at the entire Psalm and in the last “stanza” we can see a study of the work of the Son of God:

“Love and faithfulness meet…”

“righteousness and peace kiss…”

If we consider his love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace, this can fill us with joy.

But this requires discipline. This is why we may see a correlation between a neglect of our focus on him and a lack of joy.

“Set your minds.”

Joy is internal. It emerges from our soul. It is from God in us and the Spirit moves because Christ sent him to us according to the Father’s plan. One practical way for me to foster joy is meditating on the Bible, the psalmist seems to agree:

“Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:111‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Marinate in Scripture and watch joy emerge.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.” (Habakkuk‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Set your mind on him! Not on circumstances. When we are struggling, we can set our minds on him. He will be with us. Think of the stable. Think of the baby lying in a feeding trough. Think of the angels rejoicing. This is the already.

He will come back. He will bring justice. Our ability to experience joy will be undescribable, unimaginable, greater than what we can think of. Because he is faithful. Knowing this, we may have joy.

Rejoice in this Advent season.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

This is the fourth Sunday of Advent. It begins a week of considering Joy. Joy is not just a feeling of happiness. It is something much deeper because it doesn’t rely on circumstances. Joy is not fleeting.

In his helpful work on C. S. Lewis, Alistair McGrath noted:

“The quest for that Joy would become a central theme of Lewis’s life and writing.”*

Joy was promised:

“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

May the seeking of that promised joy become the central theme of our lives as well. Jesus tells us how.

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John‬ ‭15:10-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

*C. S. Lewis — A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet by Alister McGrath