We are almost one week away from Christmas! Are we ready?
Have we experienced hope and love as we intentionally take time to reflect on
the season? This week’s advent focus is joy.
Eugene Peterson says “Joy is nurtured by
anticipation.”
The third Sunday of Advent marks a shift away from the
solemn tone of the previous two Sundays to a more joyous atmosphere of
anticipation and expectancy. The third candle we light on the Advent wreath
reminds us that our waiting is almost over, and we can hardly contain our joy.
This is the joy
candle because “The LORD had done great things for us; we were joyful.” (Psalm
126:3). The coming of Jesus our Savior and Lord gives us joy.
Psalm 126:1-6 "When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Our mouths were filled with laughter then, and our tongues with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD had done great things for us; we were joyful. Restore our fortunes, LORD, like watercourses in the wilderness. Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves."
This Psalm starts out with the exiles rejoicing. They
had experienced deliverance and blessing from God, and they were almost giddy
with joy! We all like living in the times when we feel the blessing of God’s
provision and our hearts respond with praise. Of course, the Psalm doesn’t stop
there, and neither does real life. Verse four reminds us of the need for
restoration. No matter how much we enjoy God’s goodness in this life, we know
that this isn’t all there is. This life has areas that aren’t “restored”, that
aren’t as they should be. During Advent, we find ourselves waiting for that
promised joy, that restoration.
This Psalm talks about dry times, it mentions
wilderness times, it reminds us that we have to wait for some things. Like a
farmer who sows seeds, we must persevere in doing what we must do, but we must
also wait for growth, for watering, for refreshing. Two water images are found
here—the gushing forth of mighty streams in the wilderness, and the patient ongoing
work that sometimes requires tears.
Jesus had a time of tears, and Scripture reminds us
that his time of sorrow also produced great joy. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that
we should “keep our eyes on Jesus, the source and completion of our faith, who
for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of God's throne.” We must remember that Jesus was
born to die, that he was born (as the prophet reminds us) as a “man of sorrows
and acquainted with grief”. Yet he faced the cross, this grim situation, with
joy. Jesus looked beyond the cross to a joy that was ahead of him.
What was that joy? Maybe it is the development and
growth of his Bride, the Church. Jesus knew his sorrow and suffering would reap
a fine crop of restored lives and renewed relationship with God. He saw joy in
spite of the hard times. His suffering provided the greatest reason for
rejoicing—as he gave his life as a ransom for our sins, he provided for us the
opportunity to be adopted as children of God. Jesus rejoiced at the hard labor
that faced him, for he knew that God had promised to bring joy through his
sorrow, to bring life to the dead.
So it is in our lives. We may enter this Advent season with
heavy hearts. We may find ourselves laboring, sowing seed with tears, and
enduring hardship while looking forward to a future harvest. Or, we may find
ourselves enjoying the presence and the joy of our Lord. We may be in a season
of restoration where God is making all things new and pointing to the promise
of his kingdom: that future kingdom of love and peace where full fellowship with
God is restored and all will be brightness and life.
We all have that hope, even if we aren’t always living
in the joy of that kingdom.
As we enter this season of Advent, we may be living in
both parts of Psalm 126. Hearts
overflowing with God’s provision and goodness—but still crying out for restoration
in some dry areas of our lives. Take heart! There is still reason to rejoice! A
flood may be coming our way, and the promise of God’s kingdom is still
true. Rejoice! There may be a slow, seed
planting that is watered by our tears and prayers. If so, stay in the field.
Persevere. Plant and water. Because even the lone farmer sees his harvest and
will break into song. This is a season to celebrate joy.
Let us not hurry our lives through Advent. Let us be
patient with the in-between and not-yets in our lives. Let’s praise God for the
goodness flooding us and plant seeds in the barren spots. As we enter the season of Advent, let us look
forward with hope, love, and joy. Let us take a moment to rejoice over those things God has done and will do. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say
rejoice.
Thanks for reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment