(Post by: Scott Hobbs)
A dear friend of mine preached a sermon last Sunday on the topic of joy. He did a great job explaining the difference between happiness and joy and where our joy should come from.
Spoiler alert; happiness is sought in the temporary things of life and is fleeting. Jesus is the only real source for the foundation of our joy.
As I have been pondering this joy in light of Christmas, my thoughts have turned to December 26. If I am being honest, I probably dread that day more than any other on the calendar. The Christmas celebration is over; the presents are no more under the tree, the memories of this particular Christmas are in the archives. In another week the ball will drop and my wife will start to think about taking down the decorations that I would leave up until May.
I have to be careful not to let this feeling of sadness about Dec. 26th ruin the days leading up to this great Christmas celebration. I sometimes forget where my joy is really found.
As is part of our Christmas tradition, last night we watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” in black and white, obviously. Just fyi, I’m pretty sure the black and white thing is Federal law.
Just so you understand, this if my favorite Christmas movie of all time. I cry every time I watch it. The tears usually come as George stands on the bridge, for the second time in the movie, and cries out for his own reclamation. He says that he doesn’t care what happens to him in this world; the repercussions of man no longer matter to George. He asks God to let him live again. Wow!!
This year’s viewing left me thinking about the constant battle between good and evil. It’s really a very simple thing to understand; no theology degree necessary.
In the movie it plays out as the Baileys and the old Building and Loan vs Henry F. Potter and his presence in virtually everything else in town. But hard as Potter tries he just can’t get rid of the inherent good brought through the Baileys.
You see Potter continually sought happiness through his money, power, and control. The Baileys found their joy in people. I wonder what we seek more. Happiness or joy?
Perhaps we get a glimpse of real joy as we watch George respond to God answering his prayer and saving him from his sin.
George’s sin was not that he had committed a crime or broken a law. Quite the contrary; Potter, the evil side, had capitalized on an honest mistake in an effort to finally defeat George, the good side, in our Bedford Falls battle. But George had gotten overcome by the worldly battle and stopped focusing on what was really important. He took his eyes off what really brings true joy.
But now as George runs through town, taking in all the good around him, all the good that he has played a role in, he is overcome with joy. He rushes home to his family, knowing full well the authorities are there for his arrest. He doesn’t care because that’s not what matters.
We will always have to deal with the struggles of this fallen world. But when our joy is found in Jesus, we deal with them from a totally different perspective. The joy George feels about what God has saved him from, the fact that he is back with his family, the peace that comes only from knowing where our true joy comes from, pervades George.
Jesus.
In this last scene the joy just oozes out of George. It flows through everyone. His wife and kids, the towns people as they give back to help George, even the crusty old bank examiner. I’m tearing up even as I write about it!!
So, this year I want to look like that on Dec. 26th and on Dec. 27th and all the days to come. I want people to see my joy is found in Jesus; not in the temporary things of this world. I want it to be so contagious they just can’t help but get a little Jesus on them.
Will you join me? Happy Dec. 26!!!
The Few 
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