The Joy of The Lord

7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. (Luke 3:7-10,18)

The third Sunday in Advent is the Sunday of Joy. Much like peace, true joy is not circumstantial. Also like peace, cultivating joy in the midst of the stress of daily demands can be a challenge.

In our opening scripture, people from various walks of life had gone out to the wilderness to hear John preach and be baptized by him. John did not mince words when telling them that their sin could not be covered by the fact that they were descended from Abraham. John's most cutting (pun intended) words came in verse 9, when he warned them that God's judgment was, at that moment, poised for their destruction.

The listeners, determined not to be discouraged, did not shrink from John's words. Instead they asked what they should do, how they should change and adjust. In short John told them to treat others the way they, themselves, wanted to be treated. This should not have been a radical message, and it should not be a radical message today. But the headlines we read and our interactions with one another tell us that we still need to receive this instruction. The good news for John's followers should also fill us with joy because, by God's grace, it wasn't and isn't too late to change - to turn around and go a different way. This joy is not the haughty laugh of the unbothered, but the intentional, exuberant praise of the faith-filled, forgiven, believer. Like John's listeners, we can be determined not to be discouraged. We can be determined to find faith in the wilderness.

The joy of the Lord is our strength. Praise God!

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)