“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”--John 16:24
A story is told about Martin Luther, the great reformer, who was walking around the house for several days moping and worrying over his problems. So he got up one morning and saw that his wife was dressed all in black—a black dress, black hat, and a black veil.
He asked her, “Katharine, who died?” And she told him, “Oh Martin, haven’t you heard? God is dead.” He stepped back and said, “Woman, that’s blasphemy!” And she said, “Oh I’m sorry, but the way you’ve been acting around here all this week, I presumed that God had died!"
In the Christian life, there is a difference between happiness and joy. You can be happy without joy, and you can be joyful without happiness. Happiness is circumstantial—it’s determined by what’s happening in your life. But godly joy transcends your circumstances and remains even when hard times hit.
Because we have God’s Spirit as Christians, we can have joy whatever circumstances we face. So instead of sulking your way through hard times, let the Holy Spirit control you and give you inexplicable joy no matter the situation!
GIVE GOD’S SPIRIT CONTROL OF YOUR EMOTIONS AND EXPERIENCE JOY NO MATTER YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES!
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,”
Matthew 2:3–5
When the wise men brought news to Jerusalem that the king of the Jews had been born, the evil and paranoid King Herod immediately decided to kill this threat to his rule. So he brought in the Jewish religious leaders—those who knew the most about the Scriptures—and asked them to give him a location for the birth of this promised king. They did not have to consult commentaries and dig through their libraries. They knew immediately that Bethlehem was the place because they knew that Micah 5:2 prophesied the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
But that knowledge raises the question: why weren’t they in Bethlehem? The timing of the birth of the Messiah had been laid out in detail in the prophecies of Daniel. They knew that the time was near, but instead of going to look for the Saviour, they remained in Jerusalem, caught up in the busyness and intrigues of their daily lives. They missed the point of God’s plan and ignored what was most important.
That is a challenge that we too face at Christmas. One humorist said, “Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.” Christmas is not about the decorations, presents, and parties, but about the birth of Jesus Christ. Nothing that takes our attention and focus away from Him is helpful to our lives. Nothing can ever be allowed to take His rightful place at the center of lives, thoughts, and actions.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Do not let the pressures and hectic pace of the Christmas season rob you of the joy of worshiping Jesus.
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