Before the wise men found cause for rejoicing, the promise even of the forerunner

of Christ was associated with joy. To Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, the

angel said: "And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth"

(Luke 1: 4).

When Christ was born, not only did men rejoice, but angels, too, were moved to say,

"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy" (Luke 2: 10).

The gospel is not only the glad tidings of great joy that heralded the Saviour's birth,

but an ever-living power unto salvation, and this, too, should lead us to rejoice. The Lord

assures us that "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that

repenteth" (Luke 15: 10). In spite of the darkness of the present day, sinners are still

repenting, and joy is still experienced in heaven. Shall we not also share this joy? Shall

we not find a ground of rejoicing in every trophy of grace?

The report that God has opened a door of faith in any district, should, if we are in the

right spirit, fill us with joy: "They passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the

conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren" (Acts 15: 3).

Paul and Barnabas were on their way to Jerusalem to battle for the faith. They might

have caused a great deal of harm had they discussed this matter with the churches in

Phenice and Samaria. They chose the better path, and left great joy behind them.

Let us be unselfish in this matter of joy, and it will flow like a river.

Writing to the church of the Thessalonians the Apostle says that he gives thanks and

prays unceasingly concerning their work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope in

our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father, and then proceeds to tell them

that he knew that they were the elect of God: "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election

of God" (I Thess. 1: 4).

While the apostle had been the recipient of an abundance of revelations, and had

received the stewardship of the mysteries of God, and had been caught away to paradise,

there to hear unspeakable words, there is nowhere any suggestion that Paul or any man

could ever look into the Book of Life, or that any man ever received from God private

information concerning His elective purposes. Yet Paul knew that the Thessalonian

saints were elect of God. He knew it by their fruits.

We may on some occasion have walked through an orchard. We may have admired

and sampled some of its luscious fruits. Throughout the whole of our exploration of that