Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 1 verses 41 through 44:
41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy.
What happened inside Elizabeth was spontaneous and exhilarating. She was filled with what Paul calls "the inexpressible and glorious Joy" of God. She could not have explained how the Joy came upon her. She was, like C.S. Lewis, "surprised by Joy".
But sometimes Joy is a little harder to find. It doesn't always come right when we want it. And though Christmas is the most wonderful and joyous time of the year, sometimes getting into the Christmas spirit of Joy is difficult.
On the third Sunday of the Advent I preached on Joy as a practice.
"Leap FOR Joy," Jesus told his disciples.
And we sing FOR Joy. There is even an idiom which says, "Weep for Joy."
Joy can surprise us. When it does, it's wonderful. But sometimes we have to work and practice at it. We have to make Joy our habit.
And the most Joyful people in the world indeed do.
Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
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