Joy is the flag that flies over the soul when the King is in residence!Chuck Swindoll
Several years ago, I was leading a small group of ladies through Paul's letter to the Galatians. In chapter 5, we came to a familiar passage:
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,and self control. Galatians 5:22-23
Julie was in that small group that year, and Julie was from Great Britain. I asked her about Chuck's metaphor. She assured me that it was true. When royalty is in residence at the palace, the flag flies. It's the signal to the "subjects" that their monarch is present.
How fitting a picture this is! When the Lord is present to believing hearts, JOY results!
A few years later, this really hit home again! We were celebrating Christmas in my Home School moms Bible study that year by sharing our favorite Christmas song/carol. In almost every case, the over-riding response to the coming of our Lord, our Monarch, the Promised One was...JOY!
We found this to be especially true in the Scriptures surrounding the coming of our Emmanuel, the Lord Jesus Christ. Look for yourself:
It begins with the coming of John the Baptist, Messiah's forerunner:
Luke 1:12-64 -- promise to John's father Zacharias
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth...When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
Luke 1:44-45 -- John in Elizabeth's womb encountering Jesus in Mary's womb!
"...As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!"
Luke 1:46-55-- Mary's response to Elizabeth
“My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior...."
And continues with the angels and shepherds:
Luke 2:10-20
And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”...The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
