Take Joy With You, Wherever You Go

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22. Are you going to be driving home for Christmas? Or travelling during the season? Many of us travel to spend time with family and friends, or to go on holiday at this time of year.

As we do so, let’s take God’s joy with us and spread it amongst those we meet. Joy travels well. This week, we’ve seen it travel in the past, as the Psalmist reminded us:

Psalm 126:3 NLT

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!

Paul’s admonition is to be joyful in the present:

1 Thessalonians 5:16 NLT

Always be joyful.

And we can look forward with joy to what God is planning for our future:

Isaiah 61:10 NLT

I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.

As we remember the past, experience the present, and anticipate the future, we can do so with boundless joy, knowing that God promises to lavish goodness on us. We look back this Christmas and remember with joy the gift of God’s Son, Jesus. We experience, with joy, God’s presence with us in the present, and we anticipate with joy Christ’s return.

Will you ask Jesus to be your joy this season? And will you spread the joy you receive to those around you?

THINK IT OVER

Think about the following:

• What brings you the greatest joy? The past, the present, or the future?

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These Advent devotionals are based on Max Lucado’s book, Because of Bethlehem (© 2016 Max Lucado, published by Thomas Nelson).

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.