Joy

December 13, 2020 By B. Baylis Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving Message 2020 Installment II

The year 2020 has not been particularly joyful. It has brought many people to their knees. This image is courtesy of Presenter Media.

The year 2020 has brought many people to their knees. Some people were driven to the edge of despair and dropped to their knees out of utter frustration and sheer exasperation. Others bowed before God, praying for mercy and deliverance. It is a year that found many people sore pressed to be encouraged. It was a year of little joy or thankfulness.

In three short verses, Paul delivers a forceful message in his first letter to the Thessalonica church. His lesson is a powerful message that is just as apropos to today’s world as to his world. Although his injunctions are robust in meaning and potential, they are also a simple salvo of three resolute commands. Taken together with the rationale of fulfilling God’s will, they are an unassailable combination of the necessary and important traits and directives on how to live a righteous life.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV)

These commands are not only the duties that God has assigned His children. They are also a source of blessings. As Christians, individually and corporately, fulfill these responsibilities, the completed duties form a self-sustaining cycle that builds and feeds others in the ring.

Paul closes his letter to the church at Thessalonica with a set of instructions on how to live the Christian life. He begins this section by attempting to motivate his readers to encourage and build up each other. He praises and reaffirms what they are already doing.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (I Thessalonians 5:11, NIV)

The RIng of Commands and Blessings given to the church in Thessalonica by Paul. Diagram was constructed by the author using ClickCharts.

Paul closes this section by providing the best rationale a Christian could have to fulfill the prescribed duties.

…for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:18b, NIV)

I want to look at each of the three duties of Christians, highlighted in these verses as my Thanksgiving lesson for 2020. I will consider them in three separate posts in the order Paul presents them.

1. Rejoice Always

Biblical rejoicing is not necessarily the joy demonstrated by jumping up and down, shouting, and dancing in the streets. This image is courtesy of Presenter Media.

I do not think that Paul is talking about a frolicking, dancing in the street type of joy. This is very apparent when you look at the opening of James’ letter to the Jewish Christians scattered all over the known world. James suggests that we consider troubles of any kind an opportunity to “consider it an opportunity for GREAT joy,” or “count it all joy,” as other translations phrase it.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. (James 1:2, NLT)

Biblical joy is not a euphoric emotion. It is more like a calm sense of peace and assurance. It is a peace that comes from knowing that God is working in our lives when we face trials or troubles. The assurance comes from understanding that God has a purpose in all that happens.

Paul, in his letter to the church in Rome, reminds them:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, KJV)

With the covid pandemic of 2020, hospitals were pushed to their capacity limits. Health care workers were greatly endangered, battling an unseen and unforgiving virus. People died separated from their families and loved ones. This image is courtesy of Presenter Media.

A perpetual state of any rejoicing is in itself humanly impossible. The year 2020 has not been a year of rejoicing for most of the world. As we near the end of 2020, a year that many people have called a natural disaster. The Covid Pandemic may be the worse health crisis globally since the black plague of the 14th century, estimated to have killed 25 million people, which was more than one-third of the world’s population.

In 2020, more than 67 million people have been inflicted with the virus, with more than 1.5 million deaths from covid-related causes. There is no predictable end in sight. Some medical experts predict communities will be hit with second and third spikes in the number of cases and deaths. Many commentators have declared 2020 to be a “God-forsaken year.”

Throughout the history of humanity, many civilizations have experienced what they described as being abandoned by God. Habakkuk, the Old Testament prophet, cried to God in the midst of one of those periods in Israel’s history.

How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. (Habakkuk 1:2-4, KJV)

This photographic is a copy of a page from the 19th century Doré’s English Bible. It depicts Jeremiah encouraging the enslaved Jews, working in Babylon, pointing them toward God. Since the original work is public domain due to age, this faithful photographic reproduction is also public domain. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons,

Habakkuk wrote this in the 7th century BC, after almost a century of civil wars and invasions from their enemies, shortly before the Babylonian invasion destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.

As a result of this disastrous defeat, many Jews were taken captive back to Babylon to serve as their captors saw fit. As they languished in Babylon, God sends Jeremiah, His messenger, with a word of encouragement for them.

For I know the plans that I have for you,” says the LORD . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

When the Jews were finally permitted to return to their homeland to rebuild their homes, Jerusalem and the Temple, they were beset upon by their neighbors who had gotten used to not having the Jews around to bother them. In the midst of this trouble, it certainly didn’t help when Ezra, God’s priest, read the law to people hungry for a word from God. After the scribes explained the law, the people understood what it said. The Jews suddenly realized how they had ignored God’s law for so long. They became discouraged and penitent. They bowed their heads and wept.

A photograph of a print from a 19th-century woodcut by Schnorr von Carolsfeld. It depicts Nehemiah declaring a celebration of joy, recognizing God’s blessings. As a faithful image of a two-dimension work of art in the public domain, it is also in the public domain. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

However, Nehemiah, their civil governor, attempted to refocus their attention by reminding them of God’s goodness with a message of joy.

Then he [Nehemiah] said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10, KJV)

More than six centuries later, the Apostle Paul echos those same sentiments in his Epistle to Roman Christians. Rome was arguably the pagan center of the world in his day. In such a setting, Christians were under daily attack from the government and the general public. Paul attempts to encourage the Roman Christians with a message of joy.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NLT)

The prophet Nathan confronts David concerning his sin of adultery and murder. This is a photographic image of a print by the 19th-century artist Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld. As a faithful reproduction of a two-dimension work of art in the public domain, it is in the public domain. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

As Christians, we know that we cannot lose our salvation. However, there may be times that we lose the joy of our salvation. Even David, a “man after God’s own heart,” lost the joy of his salvation. After he was confronted by the prophet Nathan, David fell into a deep depression because of his guilt. He was heartbroken over his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah. In one of the best known Psalms, David prayed:

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me–now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stains of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (Psalm 51:8-12, NLT)

Biblical joy is not an emotion that depends upon how we feel. It is a lifestyle. We must choose joy. It is not something that develops naturally from within us.

From where does this joy arise? How can we find and grow joy? Paul reminds us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit who indwells us.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV).

This illustrated version of the vine and branches parable is from the 1922 book by Bihn and Bealings, The Bible in Pictures: The New Bible Symbols. Since the book is public domain due to age, this faithful photographic image is public domain. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

After the last supper in the upper room, in one of His final lessons for His disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus emphasized that He was the source of that fruit.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5, NTL)

Rejoice always, in all circumstances. This command refers to a state of mind. It is a lifestyle that God demands. Without His help, we can’t live up to this expectation. He is the source of that joy.

In the Thessalonian Ring of Duties and Blessings, “Pray without ceasing” is next. I will consider this injunction in my next post. Coming soon.

January 23, 2017 By B. Baylis Leave a Comment

Advent Wreath Lesson Three: Joy

Can you believe we’re more than halfway through January and more than 5% of 2017 is already in the books? How are you doing with your Advent Wreath Resolution? Are you still reflecting on the Advent Wreath Lessons? This week we’ve come to the third candle lit during Advent, which is the pink “Joy” candle. What is the significance of this candle?

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

When many people think of Christmas joy, the first two things that come to their minds are the angelic greeting given to the shepherds and some very familiar Christmas music.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

In terms of Christmas music, possibly the second best known Christmas carol is “Joy to the World” written by Isaac Watts. This is ironic since Watts didn’t write this piece to be an Advent hymn. Watts claimed Psalm 98 as his inspiration for this hymn.

The Last Judgment by Jean Cousin the Younger, also called Jehan Cousin Le Jeune (lived c. 1522–1595). – Blunt, Anthony. Art and Architecture in France: 1500–1700. New Haven (CT): Yale University Press, [1957] 1999 edition. ISBN 0300077483. Page 99., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2874303

O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together. Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. (Psalm 98: 1-9; KJV)

With the possible exception of the first verse Watts was obviously not celebrating the Messiah’s nativity, or first coming to earth, but rather His triumphant return to judge and reign.

Verse 1

Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Verse 2

Joy to the earth! the savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

Verse 3

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

Verse 4

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders, wonders, of his love.

(Lyrics by Isaac Watts, published in 1719; copyright status is public domain.)

In 1739, Charles Wesley wrote a Christmas poem based on the angelic message of joy to the shepherds. To use it as a Christmas hymn, the words were put to the same music as his Easter hymn, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” Wesley’s version begins with the lines “HARK how all the Welkin rings. Glory to the King of Kings” In 1751, George Whitefield tweaked the lines closer to what we sing today: “Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!” Over the next century, a chorus of sorts was added to the end of each verse, repeating Whitefield’s opening lines, “Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!” In 1840, William Cummings adapted music from a Mendelssohn cantata. This is music with which we are most familiar today. Because “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” uses the same meter, we sometimes sing that tune to the Mendelssohn music.

Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

As we wind down the month of January, are you preparing your heart to receive the heaven-born prince when He comes as King to judge and reign over this world? Are you spreading this message of joy to everyone with whom you come into contact?

December 31, 2016 By B. Baylis Leave a Comment

A Different Kind of New Year’s Resolution: Instead of Packing Away the Advent Wreath for Another Year, Reflect on Its Lessons During All of 2017

As soon as Christmas is over many people begin working on two projects. The first is the practice of writing and polishing up one’s New Year’s Resolutions. They are full of good intentions and want the New Year to fulfill all of the promises with which it comes.

The second project is packing away the holiday decorations until next year. Since the Advent Wreath centers on the time leading up to the Nativity, it is usually one of the first articles to be put away. Perhaps this year we need to refocus our thinking. The five candles of the Advent Wreath teach lessons which should not be seasonal or time dependent. They are appropriate for Christians to concentrate on all year long. If you are into New Year’s Resolutions, I would suggest that an excellent candidate for the top of your list would be the practice of reflecting on and living out the Advent lessons throughout the entire 2017 year.

The typical Advent Wreath begins with a circular ring of evergreens. The ring and the evergreens represent the eternal nature of God. Around the wreaths four colored candles are equally spaced, circling a larger, white candle in the center of the wreath. Although there are variations, it is common for three of the outer candles to be blue or violet, while the fourth colored candle is rose or pink. The four outer candles represent four virtues or messages that Jesus brings us. Four Sundays before Advent, the first blue candle representing hope or expectation is lit. The word “hope” is used both as a verb and a noun. In the Bible, the verb hope means to trust in someone or something, to expectantly wait for a beneficial result.

On the third Sunday before Advent, the first blue candle is lit again, while a second blue candle representing God’s love is lit. The word “love” is also used as a verb and a noun. God’s love is complete and perfect. It is given, and not earned. On the second Sunday before Advent, the pink candle representing joy, along with the previously lit blue candles, are lit. God’s joy is his delight and pleasure. It is what he experiences and what he gives. On the last Sunday before Advent, all four outer candles are lit. The third blue candle represents peace. God’s peace has two aspects. The first is peace with God. The second is the peace of God. More on the meaning of these candles will follow in subsequent posts.

On Christmas Eve the central white candle, also called the Christ Candle, is lit. It represents Christ, the light of the world. In this Christmas season that just passed, did you reflect the light of Christ to a world trapped in darkness? Are you planning to spread His gospel of hope, peace, love and joy to a lost world throughout this coming year? I plan to do five more posts in this series, suggesting how we should reflect on and encourage others with the message of God’s hope, peace, love and joy, and Christ as the light of the world.