Joy: The Wonder of Life
Article by Dr. Les Hollon, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church
Harriet Phillips flew into Hanoi at the close of the Viet Nam War. She was a ranking Air Force officer assigned with the responsibility to receive the last American prisoners of war, and then to accompany them on their safe return to a U.S. military facility.
As she stood in the plane’s entry way to greet each returning hero - her hands, eyes, and voice conveyed a message they had not heard in years – “You are respected. You are appreciated. You are loved. You are free.”
When the plane’s take-off lifted those valiant heroes into the airspace of freedom, Harriet said, “there were shouts of joy, songs were sung, tears were shed.” The captives were set free. Joy. Absolute joy caused everyone on that plane to celebrate.
At different levels we all know the elation of joy in our lives.
When guilty as sin, grace calls our name. When in despair, opportunity knocks on the door. When lost, the search party shows up. When heartsick, loving arms hold us close. When in anguish, surprising arms embrace us. When financially pressed, needed money arrives. When famished, we get fed. Joy is our natural response to such wonder.
JOY conveys the meaning of Advent’s third Sunday just past … “To come” is Advent’s meaning, and to prepare fully for Christmas means we feel the joy of Christ’s first coming, and with joy we anticipate Christ’s second coming. Which is why Isaac Watts wrote “Joy to the World.”
A historical contemporary of Benjamin Franklin’s, Watts knew the cost of living in a sinful world desperately wanting a new beginning. Watts’ father was twice imprisoned for his belief in Christ’s offer of salvation for every seeker. Watts felt the joy of Psalm 98:1 being fulfilled in Christ’s birth, and so he was inspired to “sing the Lord a new song, for the wonder He has done.” Though God’s wonders are rooted in the past, they live in the present, and prepare our future. So Watts wrote, “Joy to the world the Lord has come, let earth receive her king.”
Mary sang her song of Luke 1:46-56 because she felt Joy:
Jesus’ Joy,
Other’s Joy,
Your Joy as her joy.
Mary’s song of joy is a response for what God has done. What is your response for God’s blessings?
•Her joy is centered “in God my Savior.” In what is your joy centered?
•She felt the pleasure of knowing that God noticed her. Do you know that God notices you by answering His invitation?
•Mary felt the wonder of God’s holiness. Do you sense the wonder of God’s purity?
•Her humility stemmed from knowing that she stood in a long line of God’s faithful people. With whom are you standing?
•Mary’s awareness enabled her to know that “God’s mighty arm” was holding her close. Do you tremble at His touch?
•She felt exalted by God’s call for her to serve. Do you stand tallest as you serve in God’s purposes?
•Mary cared for the hungry as God’s people. Who are your people?
•She served her community of Israel. Do you know that God’s blessings include you but are not just about you?
•Mary trusted God’s promises. Do you know and trust God’s promise for your life?
Joy is God’s renewable resource for our lives. How? … By embracing the wonder of life as God’s provided gift. By responding as Mary, “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants.”
Pastor Les Hollon
Mary Visits Elizabeth
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
Mary’s Song
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me -
holy is his name.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This article was written by Les Hollon, Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church. For more information about God and your place in His world, contact Dr. Hollon, click over to Trinity Baptist Church.
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