Jump for Joy

 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.  And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. --Malachi 4:2

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. --Luke 6:21






(props to my friend John Brewer for posting this pic)

We have just concluded the Christmas season.  Soon the decorations will be stored away, the tree will be taken down, and the presents will all be taken out of their boxes and put to use.  We will all go back to our jobs and the joys of Christmas will be a memory.

Wait a minute.  Why can't we keep the joy?

Do you remember seeing a child jump up and down after seeing their gifts? Do you remember being that child who jumped up and down, squealing when you saw your presents?  Don't tell me you grew out of it.  Maturity does not steal your joy, not always.  Many times we describe a situation, and our reaction to it, as being "like a kid in a candy store." The more literary among us would describe it as having a certain joie de vivre.

Don't let life steal your joy.  Here are three reasons why:

The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength
Someone once said, "Laughter in the face of danger is a mark of courage."  Some may think him a fool who laughs, but there is no fear in him.  Are we not called to be fearless?  When Moses commissioned Joshua to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land, he said, "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6).  Those words give comfort--they are the very "tidings of comfort and joy" that we sang about all during the Christmas season.

The words "The Joy of the Lord is your strength" come straight from Scripture.  After an extended exile in Babylon, the prophet Nehemiah led the people in restoring the Temple in Jerusalem.  He found the ancient scrolls, the Law of Moses, and had them read to the people.  The people responded by weeping at the words they heard.  But Nehemiah encouraged them not to weep our mourn. "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.  This day is sacred to our Lord.  Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10).  There will come a day when we are ushered into the presence of the Lord, in all His heavenly splendor.  Some of us may weep on that day, but the Father will comfort us.  "He will dry every tear from your eyes."  We will be stronger there than at any time during our lives, all because of His power and grace.  This power and grace is available to us today, we just don't realize it.

Joy Is A Fruit Of The Spirit
As born-again believers in Christ, we have the Spirit of God living in us.  We should be so controlled by the Spirit, so filled full of God's grace and glory, that others will see Jesus in all that we do and say.  The Apostle Paul said, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

A favorite scripture of many is Jeremiah 28:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."  If that does not bring you joy, then perhaps you should reconsider your relationship with God.

Joy Is An Outpouring Of The Realization Of His Grace
"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9).  In his book Grace is not a blue-eyed blonde; Grace is the Joyous Unmerited Blessing of God, Eugene C. Rollins writes:

In Lieberman's classic, Peace of Mind, he tells us that we learn in the book of Joshua that there is no peace without a deep sense of justification.  There is no peace without a sense of I'm standing in and under God's grace, God's unmerited, undeserved, unearned kindness toward me.  Without that, there is no peace.  There is no social peace without soul peace.  There is no soul peace without a harmonious relationship to our Creator.  Soul peace.  Soul peace is found in that stand of grace. Standing under the justification of God, as I am aware that God looks at me and sees me just as if I'd never sinned.  Not that I am forgiven: I am. Not that I am pardoned: I am. Not that I am reconciled; I am. But just as if it never happened. That is what is abundant. Standing in that grace brings the justification.  The justification brings an abiding inner peace, and that abiding inner peace brings joy.  Not happiness. I'm not much on happiness.  You can find happiness anywhere, absolutely anywhere. You can find it in a bottle.   You can find it in a pill. You can find happiness anywhere and almost everywhere, but joy--that is something that is deep within that is contented.  That's something deep within that is OK. That comes out of peace. Peace comes out of justification.  Justification comes out of our stance and grace.

Wow.  What a concept.  Grace given to me, so that I am justified before God.  Being justified before God gives peace to my soul.  Soul peace leads to joy.  It makes me want to shout!

Joy to the world! The Lord has come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sound joy
No more let sin and sorrow grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make
His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of is love
And wonders and wonders of His love