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Outstanding people have one thing in common: An absolute sense of mission.
2017 Sunday School Manual
Happiness depends on external circumstances and situations, joy is independent of them. True joy is an outflow of intimate relationship with God, irrespective of the circumstances. David said of God: “You have put more joy and rejoicing in my heart than (they know) when their wheat and new wine have yielded abundantly” (Ps. 4:7 Ampl.)
This is the reason why so many people spend their entire lifetime without an experience of true joy, even though they have happiness again and again. Because their innermost being is out of joint with God, true joy is far away. In our text today, when the wise men saw Jesus and the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
This is because Jesus is the bringer of true joy to the heart of man. True joy is not possible when there is sin within. When sin is purged and Jesus is enthroned, joy erupts and continues to spring forth. When last did you truly rejoice with exceeding great joy? That was the kind of joy Abraham had when God fulfilled His promise to him in giving him
Isaac (Genesis 21:8).