We can experience joy each day because of God’s grace.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

On the third Sunday of Advent many churches light a pink candle to symbolize joy, a joy we experience as we wait for the Christ child to be born and for the glorified Christ to return.

“Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, Rejoice.”
Philippians 4:4 English Standard Version

The English doesn’t do justice to the force of the Greek word Paul used in writing to the Philippians. His language is super emphatic. All he had to say was “rejoice in the Lord,” but instead he adds “always” Then he write, “…again I will say, Rejoice.” The command to “rejoice in the Lord” itself is a command to make rejoicing a daily habit. However, Paul doesn’t want us to forget this fact.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Here’s something you need to know about the Greek word “joy.” It’s related to the same Greek root as that of “grace.” Joy and grace are gifts from God. Joy is rooted in grace, not in the circumstances of life.

Charlie Brown struggles to get it right. Every pitch he throws is hit back up the middle and rips his clothes off. He picks the scrawniest Christmas tree because he feels sorry for it. He reflects many of our efforts to get things right.

Joy transcends our failures and our attempts to get things right because it is connected to God’s grace in the gift of the Christ child for us.

Joy is an everyday event and as such we heed Paul’s exhortation to “Rejoice in the Lord always” even when there seems to be no logical reason to rejoice.

There is joy for every day

Copyright Douglas P Brauner