Day 20: A result of Christmas - Joy

A popular song at Christmas is Joy to the World. In the song, we are encouraged to be joyful because the Lord has come. Theopedia.com describes joy as “a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence, and hope. It is something or someone that provides a source of happiness. It appears 88 times in the Old Testament in 22 books; 57 times in the New Testament in 18 books.” The gospel offers a remarkable, unordinary, and exceptional joy that is not often found, seen, or experienced. It is not an occasional happy attitude or a superficial smile but an uncommon and consistent joy that runs deep like a reservoir in our spirit. This uncommon joy is possible regardless of what is happening to us and around us. When the Gospel takes root in my life and God’s Spirit transforms me, I can begin to live with an uncommon joy that’s not dependent on: My circumstances, what anyone thinks of me, how much money I have, how successful I am at my job, how many trophies I’ve acquired, or how perfect my church attendance is.

Read Philippians 2:1-16

Q: We all have empty egos. How do people often go about trying to fill them? How does a hurting ego often draw attention to itself?

Q: How does an uncommon joy keep us from having to validate ourselves, from comparing and competing with others and always having to draw attention to ourselves?

Q: How does the gospel promote harmony and humility within the lives of those who have this uncommon joy?

Q: How does whining, complaining and arguing snuff the light of an uncommon joy? Why is it so easy to complain and argue? What is the thing that I most often complain or argue about? How has it affected my joy?

Q: An uncommon joy is not necessarily logical. With that said, how do you know when you have it or not?

Q: In what ways will joy manifest itself? What is one area you could pray for joy to take root in your life?