(ADVENT 12) Unwrapping Christmas: Unlimited Joy

It was a time of celebration in Jerusalem - the massive construction project, led by Nehemiah, to rebuild the walls of the city following a time of captivity, had been completed. So there was a worship service, including a time of reading from the Word. We can read in Nehemiah chapter 8:
8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

We can certainly derive joy as we observe and reflect on the work of God in our midst - within our hearts, as we are brought into and grow into a relationship with Christ and externally, beholding the evidence of the presence of God. The Bible teaches us in Psalm 16 that there is fullness of joy in His presence, and when we bring Him our despair and disappointment, He will meet us there and give us a sense of worship, adoration, and rejoicing.

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We are now into our third week of the Advent season and have arrived at Day 12 of the Faith Radio Advent Guide, "25: A Christmas Advent-ure."  This year's theme is Unwrapping Christmas, and before we move into today's gift, let's look back at what we've covered and discovered so far. 

The gift list already unwrapped as we approach the halfway point of our journey are: salvation, mercy, satisfaction, holiness and righteousness, excitement, and His presence.  Also, we have worship, eternal life, and unconditional love. 

Over the weekend, on Day 10, the gift was: the truth of God's Word. The accompanying Scripture was John 1:14, which says: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory."

Sunday was Day 11, and the gift was: peace with God, about which we're reminded in Romans 5:1, which states: "Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Today's gift is: unlimited joy.

There is a passage in Psalm 16 that contains today's corresponding Scripture verse - we can read, starting in verse 7:
7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

And, our theme Scripture for today's gift:
11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

In the Lord, there is much about which we can rejoice.  We can experience the joy of the Lord because we have been brought into a relationship with Him.  That joy, we're told in Nehemiah, is our strength. In Him, we can experience a sense of wonder and amazement, bringing confidence and as the Christmas carol says, "a thrill of hope."

We can rejoice when others come to know Him, as well. In Luke 15, we see an instance in which Jesus talks about finding that which is lost:
3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'
7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

He followed this up by sharing the parable of the woman who found a lost coin after looking for it diligently.

So, we can rejoice as we see God at work.  A recent MinistryWatch piece spotlighted the ministry of Youth for Christ and the harvest of souls it has seen.  The article says:

Youth For Christ USA released its 2021/2022 annual report, citing a huge spike in meaningful discipleship relationships between its staff and volunteers with youth. The ministry says more than 7,000 youth made informed decisions to follow Christ (a 99% increase from prior year), almost 5,500 youth were in a discipleship relationship (59% increase), and more than 2,400 shared their faith with peers (68% increase).

The Billy Graham Library website notes:

Billy Graham served as the first full-time evangelist of the Youth for Christ ministry in the mid-1940s. Torrey Johnson, the founder of Youth for Christ, called a young Graham to take over one of his radio programs in Chicago. At the time, Billy was serving as pastor of a small Baptist church in Western Springs, Illinois. After several months on the air, Johnson offered Billy Graham an even greater opportunity – to kick off the first night of “Chicagoland’s Youth for Christ” meetings and, eventually, become the first vice-president of Youth for Christ International.

On the Youth for Christ website, President and CEO Jake Bland is quoted as saying:

“I know that God is going to use YFC to bring revival to today’s kids. YFC is currently celebrating that twice as many kids made first time decisions to follow Jesus when compared to last year. God’s Spirit is moving through leaders everywhere across the nation, The Gospel is as needed and as effective as ever, especially as the unfailing love of Christ meets today’s changing youth landscape.

The YFC article notes: "The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that today’s youth are dealing with depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders in ways never seen before. Globally, one in seven 10 to 19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds."  

Bland says, "It’s no secret that there is a growing need among young people,” adding, “The U.S. Surgeon General recently declared youth mental health as a state of emergency. 20 years ago, the biggest issue for teens was drunk driving or teen pregnancy. These days, those kinds of issues have dropped dramatically, and youth mental health needs are rapidly rising."

But he also pointed to how the Gospel can help young people deal with these issues, saying: "YFC knows all the anxiety, fear, and worry in today’s society stems from a deep-rooted need for identity, purpose, belonging. This can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ and the abundant and the eternal life that He brings."

The movement of God can result in the momentum of joy. As I pointed out, seeing the work of God, and specifically in the work of evangelism, as people come to know Christ, that sets off a sense of rejoicing in heaven. And, here on earth, we can rejoice when people come into a saving knowledge of our Savior.  

Youth for Christ demonstrates how despair has become so prevalent among our young people.  But, we know that the joy of Christ and the knowledge of God can lift that despair.  When we are hurt or disappointed, we can turn to the Lord and experience the joy that comes through being in His presence.