Refiner’s Fire . . .

 

          Deep down inner joy is a state of the heart.  ‘The joy of the Lord is your Strength’, Nehemiah 8:10 records.  When we think of the Lord’s joy, we might      anticipate outward and inward signs of His joy.  Either way, Jesus is a message of God’s joy sent to us.  Instead of a raging king or military figure, Jesus arrives as a   fragile baby.  We have heard one should not rush a good thing and sending baby Jesus was a very special gift.  Slow and steady comes the good news of God.

 

          When we consider the idea that Jesus was an act of joy visited upon the earth by God, it changes the way we see Jesus.  He brought forgiveness, mercy,           unbounded love, compassion, tenderness, purpose,    and hope.  Each of these produces a measure of joy   revealing a part of the nature of God.  The joy of the earthly arrival of Jesus reveals what He had in store for us in this season.  Jesus is truly the good news everyone wants.  Joy, direct from God, sent to you, strengthening your every moment is the joy of the Lord.

 

           God wants you to experience strength in His joy: strength to face the world; strength to face survival; and strength to face the challenges of the day.  Receive the Lord’s intended joy brought to you by Jesus, and let that be your strength for this season.  The Lord’s Joy can be yours.  Receive it today.

 

Dr. Stanley Spence