Fourth Sunday of Advent: Joy (in the Kingdom)

On this final Sunday of Advent, we approach Christmas Day with joy.

Traditionally, when we think of joy at Christmas, we attach the idea in response to Jesus' arrival as the gift of salvation to humanity. On Christmas morning we exchange gifts and consider the surprise and delight to be joy. This is great for a season and a day, but what Jesus came to teach us—if we really take it to heart—offers a joyful motivation that can last a lifetime.

If you examine Jesus' Kingdom parables, one in particular describes this joy:

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. (Matthew 13:44)

Imagine that! This guy sold everything he had—years and years of Christmas presents—for the treasure that is the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the infectious joy Jesus describes in the pursuit of God's Way. In the book Living God's Way, I've reimagined this scene from a current kid's point of view. Imagine you're a child about 6 years old, meandering a thrift store with your mom or dad. After perusing shelves upon shelves of plastic play things, you are led past a section of furniture, and casually pull open a dresser drawer. To your great surprise, it's full of real jewelry—a bajillion times more impressive than any of your synthetic dress-up gear at home.

As soon as you get home, you round up all your costumes and props and put them out on the lawn for sale. That stuff is nowhere near as awesome, substantial, or enduring as what you saw hidden in the drawer at the store. You'll trade those imitations for the real thing in a heartbeat—with joy!


That's how it feels to embrace living God's Way. It's not about amassing toys... or gold, frankincense, and myrrh; it's about growing your inventory of authentic treasures that effect the spirit—like hope, peace, and love. The amazing thing about them is when you give these things away to others... you don't lose them yourself! They are eternal treasures, that bring enduring joy. This is what Jesus came to teach us, about the way of his Kingdom. Joy to the world!


I've revealed an extended sample of Living God's Way here to give you a flavor of what's to come. My hope is that, just as I have elaborated in the previous paragraph, you'll feel inspired to expound on the stories with your little ones. Each story can be a conversation starter between you and your kid to explore what God's Way is like. After all, as God encouraged way back in Deuteronomy, God's Way is to always be in our consideration and our conversations with our children. I know I need all the help I can get with that, so I hope this book will be some to you!

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