Let All Who Believe Shout for Joy
The third week of advent celebrates joy!Our temporary joys pale in comparison with the eternal joy of Jesus!Scripture is filled with proclamations of joy!hallelujah!...in this world we will have trouble but take heart!He has overcome the world!John 16:33
As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.Remain in My love.If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love,just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy may be in youand your joy may be complete.John 15:9-11
The joy that waits to transport us from faith to sight defendsThe joy still set before us with the joy God’s Spirit sendsTo be a friend and comforter, to anoint lips with praiseFor what the Lord has done to fill us with joy all our days
The joy that is complete begins with love’s obedienceTo worship He who forgives sins and voids its consequenceHe is the Vine, the branch apart from Him can bear no fruitOf righteousness because the heart denies Truth's Absolute
The soul that is redeemed proclaims God’s goodness all day longThen bless the beauty of the name that fills our hope with songFor glad tidings of joy, no worldly riches can affordBethlehem’s baby boy became our Saviour, Christ the Lord
Let all who believe shout for joy for what the Lord has doneNo power on earth can destroy what Calvary has wonHe broke the curse of death and hell; the world He overcameHe authors joy unspeakable and Jesus is His name
Let all who take refuge in Him rejoice, yes! shout for joyFor time and trouble cannot dim the Voice of hope's employThen, may the joy and peace of God, anoint and overflowIn all we do and say, awed by God’s gift so long ago
© Janet Martin
1 Peter 1:3-9Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Psalm 5:11-12But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;let them ever shout for joy.May You shelter them,that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous;You surround them with the shield of Your favor.