Joyful, joyful we adore Thee

"I will be joyful in God my Saviour." This lovely verse greeted me when I turned to today's devotional reading from "Words of Life."

Joy is certainly the hall mark of the Christian.

Jesus our Lord and Master made this remark, " I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:11

Paul said, "The fruit of the Spirit is joy...." Galatians 5: 22

The hymn quoted for our meditation, expressing the joy of the Lord was written by  Henry van Dyke, gifted author and poet.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee, Op’ning to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day! All Thy works with joy surround Thee, Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays, Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea, Singing bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee. Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest, Wellspring of the joy of living, Ocean depth of happy rest! Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, All who live in love are Thine; Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine. Mortals, join the happy chorus, Which the morning stars began; Father love is reigning o’er us, Brother love binds man to man. Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife, Joyful music leads us Sunward In the triumph song of life. The first stanza expresses our praise and adoration to our God of Glory. There is no better way to begin the day with praise and adoration and requesting Him to fill us with the light of day. The second stanza proclaims the whole creation  - earth, heavens, angels, fields, forests yes everything calls us to rejoice in Him. As I meditated on this song, I felt my soul lifted up. This hymn does not just speak of God's love for us and our love for Him, it also reminds us of the need to love one another. " Brother love binds man to man." The hymn is married to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Beethoven was physically deaf, but he could hear God clearly. God communicates despite our physical deafness or blindness. This is the God we adore! Praise the Lord.