“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
Today’s focus is on joy. That is something with which I have struggled for years. To rejoice in the middle of stress, to rejoice in trials, to rejoice just living life. Yet during this season the world seems to slow down a little and attempt, at least, to be joyful. We have gift-giving coming up soon, we get together with those we may not have seen for awhile, share a meal together, and try to think of the good things in our lives. There are Christmas lights being hung, decorations galore, and happy Christmas music being played both in the stores and in the streets. Yes, the world – at least in our war-free zone – is celebrating joy.
As Christians, we don’t have to wait until this season to be joyful. In our passage this morning, God is rejoicing over His people. He has delivered them from their captors, released them from their burdens, and placed His Spirit within them. I love the way He tells His people that He will rejoice over them with joy and that He will joy over them with singing. Imagine, the God of the universe, the Creator of all things, rejoicing over you this morning! Can you imagine the beautiful love song He wants to sing over you? I can hear in my mind as Joe Cocker sings, “You Are So Beautiful” or Ed Sheeran sings “Perfect.” And these are just humans. Can you imagine the song God wrote just for you?
Sadly there are fellow Christians all around us who have no idea of the love God holds for them. They continue to beat themselves up for things they have done in the past, mistakes they have made, crimes they have committed. Even after they give themselves over to the Lord, they continue to destroy their lives recounting things, reminding themselves and others what bad people they are. They cannot release the past, they have not identified with their new personage in Christ. Jesus, in His infinite mercy and forgiveness, has already buried those things in the sea of forgetfulness – choosing to never remember them against you again. One of the hardest things about forgiveness is forgiving yourself.
I have found in my own personal life that one of the greatest joys I can have is that of giving. Not just during the holiday season, but all year round. It has been said that need has no season and that is the truth. Everyday, all around us, there are people who need shelter, food, clothes, etc. Not speaking for all of us, but many of us have something we can share with others. Some won’t give because they fear being taken advantage of – and I get that. But for the most part, those who receive are grateful and humbly receive from us. God has placed that ability within our hands and even teaches about it in the gospels. Love is shared with others by giving to them what we have, not by merely offering an “I’ll be praying for you.” Giving often gets our hands dirty and may expose us to things and experiences we have never known before. Talk to anyone who has gone on a church mission trip – especially to South America or the islands. They come back forever changed and appreciative of the things with which God has blessed them.
Today, my friend, we celebrate the giving, loving, joyous Spirit of Christ. We have joy knowing He is singing a long song over our lives, dancing with joy at the relationship He has with us. That is, if you have given your heart to God. If not, make that your gift to Him (and to yourself) this Christmas season. Stop running. Quit fighting. Lay it all down and surrender to the One Who loves you more than anyone else ever has. Let Him wash away the tears, start healing the hurts, and hold you until the storms in your life pass. That is His free gift to you – freedom, peace, love, joy, health, salvation. Come to Him.
If you are a believer, begin to see and hear this message in your spirit. Every so often when you experience even the smallest of blessings, I challenge you to look up and picture God dancing with joy over you. When you have one of those heart-warming moments where you just feel loved for some reason, close your eyes and hear the Father singing a love song to you. Who knows, you might even start humming a tune and making up a little song back to him (just like little children like to do). After all, aren’t we the children of God? Today I pray you know His love, sense His nearness, and respond to him as a child. Run to Him, jump up into His arms today, and feel the joy of God deep in your heart.
Be blessed, my friend.
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