Jesus Is!
Advent Devotional Guide
Third Sunday of Advent: Jesus is JOY
Sunday, December 17, 2023
”Then I will come to the altar of God, to El Simchath Gili (the God of my exceeding joy), and praise You upon the harp — O God, my God.“. Psalms 43:4
There are certain exceptional pleasures in life that bring great satisfaction — the comforting smell of Sunday dinner — the warmth of the sun on a crisp, cloudless, autumn day — the tiny fingers and toes of a newborn baby — the sight of your own grown children being such wonderful parents themselves. . . .
But are these sensations examples of happiness or joy? I have read that happiness tends to be fleeting but joy is more constant. So since Jesus is our Exceeding Joy, let’s take a little closer look.
Happiness is a temporary, external emotion originating from the environment. It feels good but it can disappear in an instant. It is a feeling based on circumstances. (like puppies, babies, and ice cream)
Joy is a constant, internal state or condition brought by God. It is deep-seated. It is rewarding. It is an attitude that defies circumstances. (Like being grief-stricken after the loss of a loved one yet being full of joy because they are at home with the Lord.)
On this third Sunday of Advent, we celebrate the Christ child as our Exceeding Joy. He came to bring us abundant life. He came to live in our hearts. Because He dwells in us, we have Simchath Gili in our very core. We mustn’t suppress it or hide it in the cellar of our lives. We must nurture it as we would care for a newborn Christmas baby.
Jesus was born to be our Simchath Gili.
Lord, Thank you for filling us with your eternal Joy. Help us to show it on our faces today as we worship you at church. You are our Exceeding Joy and are worthy of our praise.
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