The Heart of Joy
Who is the most joyful person you know? What makes that person so joyful? Do they enjoy their job? Have a craft they love? Does their joy come from a relationship with God? What is the heart of joy for them? And what is the heart of joy for you?
In the book of Matthew, tucked into the Christmas story, we find a beautiful description of the heart of joy. “And he (Herod) sent them (the magi) to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.’ After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell to the ground and worshipped Him.” (Matthew 2:8-11 NASB)
What was the magi’s reaction when they saw the star? They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. The wise men rejoiced. But they didn’t just rejoice, they rejoiced exceedingly. And they not only rejoiced exceedingly, they rejoiced exceedingly with joy. But they didn’t just rejoice exceedingly with joy, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. That’s a lot of joy!
Why such joy? They were being led into the presence of Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’ They were coming into the presence of God in the flesh–Jesus.
For the magi, Jesus was the heart of joy. Jesus can be the heart of our joy, too. How? He didn’t stay a baby in the manger forever. He had a purpose on earth. 1 John 4:14 proclaims “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” Jesus grew up. He lived a sinless life because He is fully God and fully man. He died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins, and three days after the crucifixion, He rose again. Jesus lives! And He offers to each of us forgiveness for our sins and an eternal relationship with Him.
Because He lives, we can have peace in the midst of turmoil. Comfort in heartbreak. His love in our loneliness. A fresh start with each new day. Joy in His presence.
As we celebrate Christmas this year, may we echo Mary’s song of praise: “My soul exalts the Lord. And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47 NASB)
Have you found Jesus to be the heart of your joy? Please leave your comments in the box below. I’d also be honored to pray for any needs you might have. Please list them below.
12 Comments
Katherine Rioux
Thank you for sharing so elaborately about Joy. Please pray my family experiences this joy and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends!
Kim
Hi Kathy! Thank you for your encouragement! We appreciate you and Rick so much. I’m praying your family will experience Jesus as the heart of joy as we celebrate His birth. Merry Christmas! Blessings, Kim
Janet Skerry
“Because He lives, we can have peace in the midst of turmoil. Comfort in heartbreak. His love in our loneliness. A fresh start with each new day. Joy in His presence.”
Amen, Kim. I know peace in the midst of turmoil, comfort during much heartbreak, and HIS never-ending love during loneliness.
He is the source of my inner joy even when I am in ears.
Thank you for sharing your insight.
Kim
Thank you for sharing, Janet. We so appreciate your love for Jesus and your testimony during the hard times you’ve faced. May God continue to bless and encourage you!
Becky Brinson
Kim, I’m so overfilled with His joy and the miracle that He’s preformed in my life, that it just brings me to tears . It’s that joy from Him that gives me daily strength and that joy that He gives and His outpouring love has empowered and strengthen my faith.
Merry Christmas!
Kim
Thank you for sharing, Becky! You’ve been such an encouragement during the hard times you’ve faced, and your love for Jesus shines! Blessings to you, and a Merry Christmas!
Debby Gibson
I was blessed to read your blog today. I find more joy everyday as I walk with Jesus. God put me through trials and fire the first 1/2 of my life and through Jesus I am finding tremendous value in what I have learned and sharing kindness and Jesus from an empathy God gave. I pray for the energy to share all the Joy God has given me. I look forward to reading more of your writings. Thank you and Merry Christmas
Kim
Debby, Thank you for sharing what God has done and is doing in your life! May He continue to bless and strengthen you. Merry Christmas!
Andrea Henley
Thanks Kim! I’d appreciate prayers for my kids to know and sense His joy this Christmas. My Grandmother just went home to heaven, and that’s a tough thing anytime of year. Hugs to you!
Kim
Hi Andrea! I’m so sorry for the loss of your grandmother. It’s hard to say goodbye for a time, but thankful we have the hope of heaven and being reunited. I’m praying for your sweet family, and for your kids to experience His joy this Christmas. Blessings to you all! Love, Kim
Luke Elliott
Dear Kim,
Allow me to expound more on your work on joy. In today’s reading, I read 1 John 1:4,”We write this to make our joy complete.” Hence, joy comes from sharing Jesus Christ with others. And just the opposite, a curse comes to the one not reaching out to the world with God’s love, see Jeremiah 48:10, “A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord’s work!”
So in summary, you are correct in pointing to the source of joy, Jesus Christ, and I would add our joy can be more complete by sharing our joy with others. Just some thoughts for you today. Thank you for your blog, and may you continue to reach others for Christ.
Luke Elliott
Kim
Thank you for sharing, Luke. As you pointed out, 1 John 1:4 is such a great verse to remind us not to keep the joy we have in Christ to ourselves! I pray God will use the blogs I write to bring others to Him. May we all be aware of the opportunities He gives us to share. Merry Christmas!