The Coming Light: A Devotional Guide for Advent—Week Three, Joy

Sunday, December 15: Practicing Together

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Practicing Together
(The Practicing Together guide for December 22 is included here, so you can prepare for next week’s gathering.)

Monday, December 16: Devotion

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. – Luke 2:10

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. – Isaiah 55:12

As we approach the third week of Advent, we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath. The color is officially called “rose,” and it represents joy in the liturgical calendar. The third Sunday is called Gaudete (Gow-DEH-tay) Sunday. That is the Latin word “rejoice,” which is the first word of the Sunday prayers. Try it! Gau (sounds like cow) DE (emphasis here) te (sounds like day). Now try it with an Italian accent: “Gaudete!” You got it! “Rejoice!”

As I sat down to prepare this devotion on the topic of joy, I must admit that I stared at a blinking cursor for a long time. Come on, joy … why am I not inspired? Why aren’t the words just bubbling onto the screen? It is not because I am an unhappy person. I simply was not coming up with a compelling argument for joy in the world we inhabit. I’m not sure if it’s the discord of the recent election cycle that seems to be clinging to the public atmosphere. Or could it be the media has succeeded in their concerted efforts (from both sides) to make us fear and dread the future? 

So, I reached for a book I bought soon after it was published in 1992 entitled Laugh Again by Charles Swindoll. He used Paul’s letter to the Philippians, sometimes called, “The Letter of Joy,” to restore joy to the center of the Christian life. Dr. Swindoll is, like most great preachers, a master of observation. From Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he sketched Paul’s character, and inspired me to not only write this devotion, but to cheer up, have some fun, and laugh again! Paul, he argued, was confident in the face of real struggles, like being arrested on false charges and held in prison for two years before being sent to Rome to face the Emperor Nero. He was shipwrecked on the way, and wrote the letter to the Philippians from a Roman prison with no way of knowing what the outcome would be. Nonetheless, he comforted his friends in Philippi, saying that his “circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel” because his imprisonment has made others even more bold to share the good news. Rather than whimpering in the corner of his cell, he made friends with guards who were chained to him and told them stories about Jesus. Paul's contentment was in Christ, not his circumstances, writing, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” This short letter contains 16 repetitions of the word joy, or its verbal form, rejoice (gaudete). In Philippians 4:4, we find Paul’s secret to joy, even in tough circumstances: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!” 

The folks in Philippi recognized this pattern in Paul’s life. He had been thrown in jail when he preached in their town many years before (see Acts 16). Paul and Silas must have been sore from the beating they had taken that day, but they were rejoicing—gaudete—in their cell that night! You could hear them singing all over town! Obviously heaven heard it, too, because in the middle of the night, the earth began to rumble. Earthquakes were not unusual for the people of Philippi, so I imagine they were bracing for a big one. Oddly, the only damage was to the jail house where the walls had shifted enough to break the gates open, and–so weird–the prisoner’s shackles were broken, effectively setting prisoners free. The Roman soldier who had been put in charge of the jail house knew he was doomed. If he lost track of the prisoners under his watch, well … he might as well end his own life, which he prepared to do on the spot. But Paul and Silas stopped him, “No don’t harm yourself, all of us are here. No one is going anywhere!” That soldier brought Paul and Silas home to meet his family the next day, and everyone in the household gave their lives to Jesus! I imagine they were still part of the First Church of Philippi when they received this letter of joy, hand delivered from Rome. Imagine their joy when they received Paul’s letter. He’s in jail again for sharing the Good News of Jesus. Imagine the prayer meetings they held on his behalf, with their ears to the ground, just waiting for the rumble. 

While happiness comes and goes with circumstances, joy is a choice. Read and receive Paul’s challenge found in Philippians 4:4-5. The paraphrase found in The Message is helpful. Notice that Advent is the reason for our joy; the Master, our King, is coming!

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Philippians 4:4-5

Prayer
Heavenly Father, fill our hearts with joy that transcends our circumstances and anchors us in your presence. Help us to rejoice always, just as Paul did, trusting in your goodness and celebrating the hope we have in Christ. May our joy be a testimony to your love and a light to those around us. Amen.

Tuesday, December 17: Digging

Let’s dig into Scripture to discover its rich, biblical nature. As always, let’s begin with prayer. Oh God of Joy, give me the grace of seeing and feeling the joy you desire for your people. Amen.

Definition: Biblical joy is a deep, inner gladness that persists regardless of circumstances. It is more substantial than happiness, being rooted in the goodness and faithfulness of God rather than external conditions or possessions. 

I’ve chosen a few different passages to flesh out the nature of joy, according to Scripture.

1. James 1:1-5, 12
Let’s begin with a well-known New Testament passage that mentions joy. James, the leader of the Jerusalem church, wrote a letter to Christians who had been scattered. Scholars think they had fled Jerusalem during times of persecution and were now settling in other places in the empire. So, to religious refugees, he writes the following.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,        not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Read the passage several times, and then answer the following questions. 

• What do we learn about joy from this passage?
• Think about how you handled a trial in your life. If James were your pastor or counselor, would he have advised you to do things differently?

2. John 15:9-11

Now let’s turn to a Gospel passage. In this scene, Jesus is in the upper room on the night before the crucifixion, preparing his disciples for his departure. He did a lot of teaching that night, and he touched briefly on the nature of joy. Let’s listen in …

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

After you read this passage a couple of times, answer these questions: 

• What is the nature of the joy Jesus is talking about? 
• How is this joy achieved?

3. Nehemiah 8:9-12

Finally, let’s have a look at a passage from the prophet, Nehemiah. Just before these words, the people had been at an all-day Bible study. They listened to Scripture being read and explained, and this was their response.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.”

Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

After you have read the passage a few times, answer the following. 

• Nehemiah’s people had been deep in God’s Word. What part did joy play in the scene?
• What do you learn about joy from their example?

Now re-read the definition of biblical joy at the beginning of this study. Is there anything you would add or amend based on your study today? 

Wednesday, December 18: Listening

• Prepare: Go to your place of prayer or study and make yourself comfortable. As always, when we use our imagination in prayer, we stay within the boundaries of Scripture. We are seeking to use our memories and our own experiences to fill in the white spaces of the narrative. (Think the “color commentary” of sports announcers.) Adding these details brings the Scriptures to life.
  This week our reading is in the book of Isaiah. When Adam and Eve rebelled in the garden, three foundational relationships were disrupted. The relationship between God and humankind, between individual human beings, and between mankind and creation. God’s redemptive plan from the beginning was to restore these relationships. Isaiah is prophesying to a people about to be conquered and taken into exile. But even in the midst of that, a future is promised. In the face of coming hardship, God offers a message of hope and joy! One day, even redeemed creation will leap for joy!
  
  Take a moment to relax; ask the Lord to guide and direct your imagination so that you might see and hear what he has for you in this passage.

• Read: Isaiah 55:12. Read it silently or aloud.
• Reflect: Remember the times of joy in your life. Perhaps you recall a particularly joyful Christmas or birthday when you were little. Maybe it’s a high point in your life, like your wedding day, graduation, or the birth of a child. Let the joy of that moment stir in you. Feel the smile on your face, the filling of your chest, and perhaps tears of gratitude. This is what you bring to the moment. What will it be like when the earth is redeemed? When the trees “clap their hands”? When you “go out in joy”? Fill in some details, what comes to mind? What do you hear? Spend some time in this joyous moment. Take the experience of that joy and allow it to lift you up.
• Rest: Sit still if you can and allow that joy to build and effervesce within you.
• Respond: Sing! Perhaps the phrase “Joy to the World!” bubbles out of you. Maybe your own song to the Lord comes at the thought of what he has accomplished and will continue to do. Take a walk and notice the tree branches leafless and naked now adorned with Christmas lights. Delight in the change of the seasons. Feel the joyful anticipation of Advent.

Thursday, December 19: Seeing