There are three meanings of ‘coming’ that Christians describe in Advent. The first, and most thought of, happened about 2000 years ago when Jesus came into the world as a baby to live as a man and die for us. The second can happen now as Jesus wants to come into our lives now. And the third will happen in the future when Jesus comes back to the world as King and Judge, not as a baby.
“THE JOY OF THE LORD”
Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and
drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this
day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your
strength.” The “joy of the Lord” is found on the
road to our restoration. The Old Testament tells us that Ezra, the scribe,
gathered all the people. He read the Book to them. Skilled ministers explained
the words and their meaning “so that the people understood the reading.[2] Once they understood—they wept. God’s Word
opens our eyes to the way we have failed Him. But we can quickly be reminded
that, still today, the Lord is a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate.
Eyes opened to our loss and guilt + honest repentance = sins forgiven and souls
restored, and the “joy of the Lord becomes our strength!” SOMETIMES A THOUGHT EXPRESSED is better than a definition given. “Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” ~ C.S. Lewis “I was delivered from the burden that had so
heavily suppressed me. The spirit of mourning was taken from me, and I knew
what it was to truly rejoice in God my Savior.” ~ George Whitefield “The only lasting and fully satisfying joys
for any man lie on the other side of a cross.” ~ Walter J. Chantry “Joy is not necessarily the absence of
suffering, it is the presence of God.” ~ Sam Storms “Happiness is untested delight. Joy is
delight tested.” ~ Jack
Hyles “It is His joy that remains in us that makes
our joy full.” ~ A. B.
Simpson “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”[3]~ The Apostle Paul And so, my friend, may YOUR life be filled
with the “JOY of the LORD” today and every day! [1] Nehemiah 8:10 [2] Nehemiah 8:8 [3] Galatians 5:22
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