One of my greatest joys of the Christmas season is hearing and singing Christmas Carols. I think of the many carols and songs that express the Joys of Christmas: “Ode to Joy,” also known as “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” (melody by Ludwig van Beethoven and words by Henry van Dyke) is just one of my favorite hymns. The words are so meaningful for the season, and for what we are experiencing in the world today. They are words that we not only can sing, but we can also include in our prayers. Some of these meaningful words are as follows:
Joyful, Joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of Love.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness [joy],
fill us with the light of day.
Teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine.
What is joy divine? I suggest it is happiness (Joy) that comes from a relationship with Christ (The Divine), and doing His will.
Can we still experience joy even when we are experiencing trials and sorrows? Events of this past year have been so sad and disheartening. My heart is heavy, and I feel deeply for all those who lost loved ones and property from senseless and merciless killings, and also from disasters. I pray for them that they, and we, may be lifted to the joy divine, and that we do all we can to help and that we pray for those in need.
On this earth Christ was “a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3, NASB). Yet He said, “I delight [joy] to do Your will, O my God, Your Law is within my heart” (Psalms 40:8, NKJV).
God’s Laws are laws of love. “For all the Law is fulfilled in one word [love], even in this: You shall love you neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:14 NKJV). “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you. (John 13:34 NKJV). Our prayer should then be: “Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.”
While Jesus lived on this earth His greatest joy was in loving service for others. This is Joy Divine. Psalm 146 describes Jesus’ ministry:
How blessed is he whose help is God,
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry, sets prisoners free.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
the Lord raises up those who are bowed down [sorrowful];
The Lord protects the stranger;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
He thwarts the way of the wicked.
But the greatest part of His ministry was when He gave His life for us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NASB).
Ellen G. White wrote: “What Christ was in His life on this earth, that every Christian is to be” (Signs of the Times, July 16, 1902).
In Philippians 2:5 (NKJV) we read: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” This is the Joy Divine we can experience.
The Lord has asked us: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you” (Isaiah 41:10. NKJV in part). Knowing the Lord is with us and helping us can bring us peace and joy.
It is only as we joyously work together, with the power of the Holy Spirit, that we can hasten the most joyous event that is yet to come: Christ’s second advent. As this season of Advent waiting reminds us, this is our greatest hope and joy.
Remember that the Lord has promised: “Let not your heart be troubled [in other words, be joyous]. I go to prepare a place for you. And …. I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you will be also” (John 14:1-3, NKJV).
Oh, what a joyous day that will be when we see Jesus and hear those wonderful words: “Well done my good and faithful servant; enter into the JOY of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21, NKJV). Then we can sing:
Joy to the World the Lord has Come!
Let earth receive her King.