Just Rodney
Each week, you will find brief insights on this blog page into Pastor Rodney's upcoming Sunday message. After each Sunday service, visit this blog again to view the same post, updated with a video of our worship time.
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Advent of Joy
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come: Let earth receive her king…”
“It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, full of glory…”
“Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love…” - these are just a few hymns of expression of joy. The words “joy,” “rejoice,” or “joyful” appear in the Bible 430 times (English version), compared with “happy” or “happiness,” which appears only ten times. So one could conclude (based on His word) that God desires for us to experience joy and that joy and happiness are not one and the same.
Happiness is dependent on external things, Joy is internal. Happiness is circumstance based, Joy is Christ based. Happiness is by chance, Joy is a choice - “today is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!”
Christmas season is easier to be joyful, and should be a joyful time, but what about the daily routine of life?
Life in general has a way of “robing” us of our Joy. Even the everyday routines and responsibilities of life can “squeeze” the Joy from our souls. But does this have to be the case? Can we live our lives without losing our “Joy?” The Bible says, “yes.” I believe the key is found in Psalm 16: 11, “…in your PRESENCE there is FULLNESS of JOY…” As a Christ follower Jesus has promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. He has promised His Holy Spirit to dwell in us and among us. He has promised us eternal life! He said that we are joint heirs with Christ, and that at His “right hand are pleasures forevermore!” By staying in Jesus’ PRESENCE we can “count it all JOY” when the path of life takes us down the road of trials of various kinds. (cf. James 1:2) Yes, with God’s help we can live a life overflowing with JOY because of the PRESENCE of Christ in our lives! “You will show me the path of life; in Your PRESENCE there is FULLNESS of JOY; at Your right hand are pleasures.” - Psalm 16: 11
Jesus said in John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that MY JOY may remain in you, and that YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL!”
God is not the big joy killer, He is the author and sustainer of true joy!
In Jesus Christ we have hope. This hope brings peace. With peace comes joy. At the root of hope, is Jesus’ love for you and me!
Pastor Rodney
