‘The Joy of the Lord is our strength’, is based on the Bible verse Nehemiah 8:10, which says, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength”. The joy of the Lord can empower us to seize the opportunities that the joyful season of Christmas brings, to share the gospel in unusual ways. We are all ‘gifted’ to carry out this Great Commission, but we can become apathetic due to the daily grind of our lives. The Christmas season is a great opportunity to win the battle over apathy. We can all stir up this ‘gift of God’ that He has put within us (2 Timothy 1:6)
To be effective in sharing the gospel this season, we need to make time in the midst of our festivities to seek God wholeheartedly. When we make time for prayer, reading the Bible, and meditating on His word, we will experience His presence and joy in a profound way. That joy will flow out effortlessly to those around us.
In addition, let us commit this season to serve and meet the needs of others with joy. The Joy of the Lord is often found when we serve others selflessly and search for opportunities to be a blessing to those around us, whether it is within our church community or in our daily interactions. Serving others with love and compassion brings joy both to them and to us. Proverbs 11:25 says ‘A generous person will prosper. Whoever refreshes others will himself be refreshed.’
So, make a commitment this Christmas season to tap into the joy of the Lord. You will be empowered to stir that gift within you to serve the needy and share your faith with a world that so badly needs it. It is the best gift we can give because everything else passes, except the Lord (Galatians 6:14). Christ alone is sufficient.
Enjoy the season!
When we tap into the joy of the Lord, we are empowered for the work of building His kindgdom.
Hozzászólások