Early days of advent, the people spent the weeks prior to Christmas in preparation. This included fasting and prayer. The third Sunday was a day to break the seriousness. A rose or pink colored candle was used. This Sunday we concentrate on Joy. The joy we have in Christ. Not the giggly always bouncing around happy type of happiness. But the deep inner joy and contentment of a relationship with Christ.
John 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
The Joy of Christ comes from keeping Christ’s command. And what is that command? What must a person do in order for Christ’s joy to be in you and for that joy to be complete?
John 15:17 This is my command: Love each other.
True contentment and joy comes from loving our brother’s and sister’s in Christ as He loved us. Christ’s love is sacrificial love. Jesus loved us so much He stepped down from heaven to be born in a stable and slept in the trough where the animals ate. Walked the earth and taught the people. He died on the cross to cover our sins.
This the type of love we are called to possess for one another.
The idea of loving fellow Christians as Christ loved us has been on my mind a lot lately. It occurs to me that many of us have become proficient at pretending to love. We hug and kiss and say we love one another when we are together. But who are we when we are alone or with a different group. Do we bad mouth? Do we shake our heads? Are our thoughts about how we are better than Sue? Or boy, Josie needs to get her act together?
I think the love that Jesus wants is the kind of love that doesn’t talk behind someone’s back. It cares about the person and will sacrifice for that person. Joy comes from a heart free of self righteousness, a mind clean of mean thoughts, and a mouth silent if nothing good can be said.
Prayer: Lord you know those who I have difficulty with. Please help me to love them. I place on the altar before you all my selfish thoughts and self righteousness. Please forgive me and fill me with your joy.
Meditation: Why do some people make me angry? Why do I talk about some people behind their backs? Are there times when I act like I love someone, but actually resent them?
Action: Watch my actions and thoughts during the day, when I start to talk about someone or feel resentment, I will pray for the person.
Action:
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