Monday
Nehemiah 8.10 “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Let there be no sadness, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
This isn’t an instruction never to grieve, feel sad, be low in spirits, or depressed. This is a special day for God’s people Israel. They had just heard the Law being read, and were upset because their lives were out of sync with what God requires of faithful and faith-filled hearts. But if they delight in God, commit their hearts once more in love and faith and hope, they will discover a new joy, the joy of obedience.
Tuesday
Nehemiah 8.10 “Send some to those who have nothing prepared.
For followers of Jesus, celebrations should never be selfish; having plenty, take time to remember those who have nothing. Joy in God can never be all about me, me, me. Joy in God is like that spring of water that wells up inside and pours itself out as love, kindness, and an urge to share what is good in our lives with others. Our own sense of blessing sows seeds of gratitude, which grow into thoughtful generosity to others.
Wednesday
1 Chronicles 16.10&27 “Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice…Splendour and majesty are before him, strength and joy in his holy place.”
In this thanksgiving Psalm of David, joy and gratitude feed each other when we come to God. There are few more energising emotions than thankfulness. Gratitude produces resilience and strength to go on serving God, even when it’s hard. God’s sufficient grace in Christ enables and empowers us. Grace creates gratitude and so thankfulness turns to joy. Our glad obedience to God is the outcome of that cycle of seeking, and asking and knocking and finding the “grace to help us in time of need.”
Thursday
1 Chronicles 16.32 “Let the sea resound and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant and everything in them. Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.”
Use your imagination! Look at the world and hear and see a symphony performed in colour, motion and sound. The background beat is the sea, the music and movement are fields ripe for harvest waving and dancing in sun and wind. This choral symphony is accompanied by forests of trees, all keeping time with the music of Creation, conducted by the Creator, their song a hymn of grateful praise. Those who sing and play in this orchestra believe God’s justice is coming. Wrong will be made right, God will bring shalom in God’s good time. This is not wishful thinking. This Psalm is music composed in the heart of God, performed in movements, from Creation to Calvary, to the Empty Tomb, and to the Ascension of Christ seated as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” This is the music of redemption, orchestrated by the Triune God of holy love and grace, its finale the coming of Christ “to judge the earth.
Friday
Proverbs 12.20 “There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace.”
This is about what the mind thinks, the heart feels, and the will decides. What gives us joy – other people’s troubles, or finding ways to make other people’s lives better? Another translation reads, “There is joy for those who seek the common good.” Jesus focused on this even more sharply, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Joy doesn’t just happen – when we promote peace, or seek the common good, there is the joy of knowing that’s exactly the internal bias God approves. Evil boomerangs on those who wish harm upon others; whereas joy is the inevitable by-product for those who work to heal, build, and sustain community as their service to the God of peace.
Saturday
Isaiah 55.12 “You shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and the trees of the field will clap their hands”
This promise is to those who seek the Lord with all their heart. (v6) Of course, life can close in on us, or fall to pieces, or we lose our direction, we long for a life worth living and a purpose that re-energises and motivates us. As the prophet said, “Give ear and come to me, hear me that your soul may live.” (v3) There are times when joy seems to ebb away and we need inner renewal. For those who feel like that, this promise is for you: “Seek the Lord while he may be found.” Joy in God is infinitely more than pleasure, happiness, status or ‘enjoyment of stuff.” When we live towards God, and seek God’s company and grace, “we shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace!
Sunday
Isaiah 12. 5 “Sing to the Lord for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy people of Zion!”
If ever there was a mission text for the church, this is it! Isaiah is the mission prophet who writes of beautiful feet on the mountains bringing good news! Christian worship is to sing of the glories of the Gospel of Christ. Christian witness is to “let this be known to all the world.” To shine as light, to penetrate and cleanse like salt, to live as communities of the Spirit, and to sing for joy as people who believe and know and trust that “God was in Christ reconciling the world too himself.” Aye, sing for joy!
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