One of the definitions of joy in Webster’s College Dictionary is “A feeling or state of great delight or happiness, as caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying.”
Hebrews 12:2 says,
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
What was the something exceptionally good that caused Jesus great delight, so great that He endured crucifixion on a cross? That joy that was set before Him was and is you.
You are exceptionally satisfying to our Lord, so satisfying that He gave it all for you. “All” meaning His reputation, family, friends, home, and His very life. He did this because God set you before Him and promised Him that one day you would be His bride.
What a promise that is and what a high calling upon your life. The fairy tale of all fairy tales, but this one is true. He returned to His Father’s house to prepare a place for you and He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God waiting, full of delight and happiness, for the joy that will be His.
What does this mean for you today? As you run your errands, clean the house, prepare the meals and take care of your family, you can have a joy that is set before you, too. You can endure all that life brings your way because there is an exceptionally good and satisfying future ahead of you.
You are lovingly longed for, and hopefully awaited. You are without rival. You are a precious gem. You are loved beyond your wildest expectations.
You may remember the Calgon bath and beauty product commercial from the mid to late 70’s and its slogan. The ads showed a woman totally stressed out by things that were going on in her life. She would plead, “Calgon, take me away!“ and suddenly she was transported into a bathtub filled with bubbles, surrounded by fluffy white clouds and floating away in a giant bubble. The commercial showed the bath in Calgon to be the joy that was set before her at the end of a hectic day.
How wonderful it is that our joy is not just a relaxing bath but an exhilarating future with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. A day is coming when Jesus will arise from His seat at the right hand of God and come forward at the sound of a trumpet and the shout of a King to claim His joy – His bride. That is something satisfying and good in which you can take great delight.
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