Illuminate Advent Sample

Illuminate Joy Day 1 

The second attribute of Christ we see in advent is joy. The joy of the coming of our Savior. Luke 6:23 tells us to “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy”. The word for joy that is used is ‘cara’ which means a calm delight, exceeding gladness, fullness of joy. 

The joy we find in Christ is different from happiness. Joy gladdens the spirit while happiness gladdens the flesh. Happiness is determined by outside influences, or happenings, while joy is an infilling of the Holy Spirit, no matter what may be going on around you. The joy of God is an ongoing pouring in from Him to you. We are joyous during advent because He promised to come and be our propitiation from sin and His promise to come again to gather us to Him for eternity!

John 15:10 tells us that if we abide in His love, then His joy will remain in us and our joy may be full. As we abide in Him, we look forward to the wedding feast of the One who loves us with an everlasting love and gave His all for us to be with Him. When the above verse tells us our joy may be full, it uses the word ‘pleroo’ which literally means to cram in, to satisfy, to complete, to fill entirely, and to perfect. If we allow ourselves to be filled entirely with His joy, then the enemy has no room to cram in any of his doubts or disappointments.

With everything that usually goes on during the “holiday season,” we have plenty of things that can try to take precedence over the reason for our joy if we let them. But if we allow His joy to emanate through us, then no disappointments, trials, messed up schedules, burned meals, bad presents, or annoying relatives will stop us from looking joyously toward His return! Unrealized expectations are the biggest joy zappers during this season. George Bernard Shaw once said there are two sources of unhappiness in life: the first is not getting what you want, and the second is getting it!

1 Thessalonians 5:16 tells us to “rejoice always,” or to always be joyful. The only way to do that is to realize the only reliable source of joy is Jesus Christ. If we are abiding in Him then the command to rejoice always takes care of itself!

Take Away:

1. Are you living in the happiness of the moment, or in the Joy of the Lord?
2. Are you abiding in the Lord so He is constantly filling you with His joy?
3. Are you bringing joy to those around you?