Week Three - Day Three

We Are A Happy People

We belong to a happy God. From before the beginning of the world, God has been in a state of unchanging, infinite joy. Not a joy that precludes sorrow or wrath or empathy, but still a pure and boundless happiness. When I'm really happy, I pretty much need to share it. I have to tell someone, so they can be happy with me. Or maybe I'm extra nice to others because I'm in such a good mood, or maybe I throw a big party to celebrate. And if I bottle it up, there's a good chance it'll start leaking out. You've probably experienced the same.

We're like that because God is like that. God is so joyful that He created a universe and a planet and a people in order to share His joy. He made a plan across all of time to build a people for Himself, to reveal Himself to them, to enter into the world, and to draw them to Himself. You exist because God is so exceedingly happy that He wanted people who could share in that happiness.

The weight of life can be incredibly heavy, and it can blot out our joy like clouds in front of the sun. But what cloud has ever damaged the sun? This joy can be hidden but never destroyed, because it comes from God's own indestructible cheerfulness. This is what Jesus meant when he said that His joy would be in us. The joy of the Christmas season is that joy. God has come, and we are marked by His indelible joy, even in cloudy weather.

We are a happy people.

“If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”

John 15:10-11