Advent: God’s Joy
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
Memory Verse
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (NIV)
During the Christmas season, we often hear the familiar song “Joy to the World.” We know the words well, “Joy to the World, the Lord has come…” But what exactly is the joy of Christmas all about? Many people confuse joy with happiness. Happiness is often based on your circumstances—like whether you win your game, get an A on your test, or finally get that present you’ve been wanting. But joy is a deeper emotion, one that lasts through good times and bad. It comes from seeing God at work in the world.
Our scripture reading shows us that joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). This means that God is the source of joy. The Holy Spirit helps us to see joy, practice it, and give it away. The Spirit draws our attention to beautiful things and helps us remember God’s faithfulness in the stories of the Bible and in our lives. When we are “in step with the Spirit,” we can be joyful in all circumstances.
The Spirit also helps us see people who are in need of God’s joy, so that we can share it with them. When we are filled with joy, we know how to give it away. Christmas is a perfect time to remind others of good times and stories of God’s faithfulness. We can show them examples of God’s goodness and beauty all around us. We can share God’s promises from the Bible, and we can also bring joy to others by doing simple acts of kindness and service. What a joy to share God’s good gifts.
Prayer
Dear God, with joy and praise we see the signs that your kingdom has come in Jesus Christ. We rejoice in the forgiveness of sin. We rejoice that you have made us new in Christ. With joy we’ll proclaim the good news of great joy. In the Savior's name we pray. Amen.Related Resources
Ron VandenBurg
Senior Producer of Children’s Ministry at ReFrame Ministries
Ron VandenBurg joined the ReFrame Ministries team in 2014. He plans and develops projects specifically for the spiritual formation of children. Before coming to ReFrame, Ron taught middle-school for 27 years. Ron completed a M. Ed. degree in Teaching, Learning and Development at Brock University. Ron and Rachel have three fantastic adult children and one grandchild and reside in Ontario.