December 4, 2020

“Genuine Joy”

It was C.S. Lewis who once said, “Joy is the serious business of Heaven.”  I like that because it forces me to think more deeply about the subject of joy.

At Christmas, we hear the word “joy” a lot, but that doesn’t mean we understand what the word means. I fear most of us confuse joy with happiness and, consequently, we fail to recognize joy’s power to transcend our worldly happenings and circumstances.

I’m calling my message on Sunday, “Genuine Joy.”  Through it we’ll discover three things about genuine joy. First, that it comes from a source beyond us. Second, that it is to always characterize a believer’s life and, third, that it’s eternal or never-ending.

My message will come out of John 15 where Jesus is telling His disciples how He intends to prune their lives for greater fruitfulness. Jesus’ pruning can be uncomfortable and even painful. However, in this pruning process, Jesus promises His followers genuine joy.

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! (John 15:11)

Even in the painful experiences of life, those who belong to Jesus are promised a genuine, overflowing joy that transcends this world.

The longer I live in this sorrow-filled world, the more I realize I can’t cure it. Nonetheless, I can choose to live in the genuine joy Jesus promises me, and that, I believe, is the serious business of heaven.

Choosing joy,

pastor jamie