Addicted to Joy

I just got a new (second hand) car. Ah, the joy of it. You know what? This car even has an adjustable driver’s seat. And I’m not just talking about backwards and forwards. By turning two knobs, I can actually raise or lower the level of my bum. How’s that? I know – so what? Nevertheless, I can do it! Woohoo!!

 But ... now that I think about it, I felt the same joy when I got the new (second hand) car that this latest, new (second hand) car is replacing - if you get my meaning. Cars deteriorate. Prince Charming may turn into a flatulent King. Health and wealth come and go. Holidays always come to an end. Clothes go out of fashion. Technology gets superseded. Rugby teams loose (flipping Sharks). The dog pukes on the new carpet.

Joy can seem like an elusive commodity.

In spite of this, I am hoping to turn into a bit of an addict – a joy junkie if you like. My dictionary defines joy as “a vivid emotion of pleasure, gladness”. And the Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). It also says, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Mat. 13:44).

Now that sounds like a good thing. In fact, it sounds like THE thing! Joy brings strength. It floods our hearts with pleasure and gladness. It is what we feel when (like the man who found the hidden treasure) we realise we have found SOMETHING more valuable than ANYTHING else. Bring it on!

Question is: where does one find such joy? And that is the question I would like to leave you with today.

Cheers for now - Ian