Scripture
Our verse for today comes from Acts 8:8, “So there was much joy in that city.”
Background
Some years ago the cities of Baton Rouge, LA and Kansas City, MO got to celebrate major victories. The college team of LSU and the professional team of the Kansas City Chiefs won their respective national football titles. For LSU, it had been 13 years since their last championship, but for Kansas City, it was their first Super Bowl victory in 50 years. In cases such as these, we’re used to seeing or hearing about tickertape parades honoring and celebrating the team winning the title. Joy and hoopla rule the day, and many businesses are known to give employees the day off just to join in on the party. I wonder what would happen if in one of our cities, the patients who filled the hospitals with terminal conditions, or those suffering at home or in care facilities with maladies or handicaps that were incurable were suddenly being healed? What if every wheelchair was deemed unnecessary and the psychiatric wards had no one with mental illnesses to care for? What type of reaction would that town have? How would the people and the businesses respond to such a wave of unexpected goodness?
Application
When Philip healed the possessed and the crippled, much joy swept through the city of Samaria. I don’t know how it was expressed or even identified, but it was obvious and palpable and probably quite overwhelming. But we know that things like that don’t last. When you research what people say will bring joy to life, most of what you’ll find will be lists of sweet, simple acts that can make you feel good about yourself, provide some time for just you, or help you remove some of the distractions and chaos that hinder your joy. And then what? If the list has 20 items, what happens when you’re ready for number 21? Football victories, and even medical miracles, have a limited shelf life. But the Bible says that joy is a gift from God, available and real even in the midst of sorrow and suffering. It springs from our position as forgiven children of God, and flourishes as we keep close to Christ and far from sin. Some hope to find it, and God, through various means. But it comes with the deal when you stay close to the Savior.
Charge
As we seek Him today, find joy in Christ rather than seeking it in other ways.
Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words
Distributed by – BCWorldview.org
Editor Comment: In a season starved for good news, this devotional reminds us that lasting joy is never tied to a scoreboard or a headline – it is anchored in Christ alone.