Holy Saturday

Virtue: Joy
Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

It’s strange to look at the virtue of joy on the day we remember that Jesus laid in a tomb, dead.  It may help us to understand the idea of joy more clearly. 

Joy is not the same as happiness, though they often feel the same when we experience them.  Happiness is situational.  Joy is relational.  Joy comes from being in relationship with others who are glad to be with us.  Think of the moment you come home to your family, or when family comes to visit you.  That excitement and delight is joy.  This joy can live and abide beyond the moment because the relationship continues, even outside of the presence of the person/people that bring us joy. 

“For the joy set before him…”

Jesus endured the shame, humiliation, pain, and eventual death through the cross because there was joy on the other side.  This is the joy of relationship with all those who had been lost to God.  This is the joy of reunion with those He loves.  This is the joy of right relationship with His Father.

The virtue of joy can live in us because the cross brought peace, and now we can have this joy-giving relationship with God and with God’s people.  This joy lives in us because of the cross.

Questions:
1. Do you know anyone that seems to just live in the state of joy in their life?  Why do you think they have this joy?

2. How can you intentionally try to share joy with others you may interact with tomorrow?

3. What must you ‘throw off’ (Hebrews 12:1) in order persevere toward joy with God?

Action:
Remember, a virtue is not something we can just will ourselves into.  It is the excellence of God on display in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Invite the Holy Spirit to help you through this action, and join with other believers to do this action with:

Think of some verses that have been encouraging to you or brought you joy.  Write a few of these down on some notecards or sticky notes to keep with you.  Be ready to share these verses with others you encounter when the Holy Spirit prompts you.  Share the joy of God with others as you do so.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for all that you endured, for the death you defeated, and for the life of joy you have brought me into with your Father.  Give me this joy that knows no bounds.  Give me the grace I need to persevere through all of life because of the joy set before me that is found in you.

Amen