121 AdventSample

The Source of Joy

When Jesus was born into this world, He not only provided a way to God the Father, He also modeled joy for us from day one, doing everything in accordance with His Father’s will (Luke 10:21).

• He was joyful in His relationship to His Father.
• He was joyful in serving others as He healed and provided for them.
• He was joyful in passing joy to God’s children.
• He was joyful as He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).

This is where joy comes from. This is who joy comes from. Jesus provided the perfect model for us to understand how to find and express real joy, in our relationship with Him and in our relationships with others. Nothing else can even come close to defining joy for us like Jesus can.

If we understand that Jesus forgave all of our past, present, and future sin by dying on the cross for us, paying the penalty of His Father’s wrath, and then rising from the dead, how could we not find joy through Him? As the Church, we should find joy in all circumstances because of the One who has provided joy for us.

Families With Young Children

Read Hebrews 12:1-2. KIDS, We can look to Jesus to see a picture of what having joy in all circumstances looks like. He paid the price of our sin. He died on the cross to forgive all of our past, present and future sin. And, He did it because of the joy that was coming. If He can do that, how can we not find joy in Him?

Read Galatians 5:22-23. KIDS, The angel announced Jesus’ birth as, “good news of great joy for all people… a Savior was born!” And, after we believe and trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, He gives us the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. If Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that joy is a fruit of the spirit, and we have the Holy Spirit in us, then what does that tell us about joy? We can have joy no matter what because we have the Holy Spirit!

Spend some time in prayer as a family thanking God. Thank Him for sending Jesus as our Savior. Thank Him for the example that Jesus is of having joy in all circumstances.