Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.â€�²

“It is not so much the joy of the Lord we are seeking as the Lord of joy Himself.� - C.S. Lewis

In 2008, Honda created a “Musical Road� in Lancaster, California for a car commercial. The idea was that when you drove over the grooves in the road at 55 mph, you would hear the “William Tell Overture� producing a moment of joy along your drive. However, the music-producing grooves weren’t properly spaced out and the song sounded off-key. After a month of hearing the warbled tune, nearby residents became annoyed and petitioned the city to remove the musical road from their street. So, the “Musical Road� was moved to a different part of town. Since then, other American cities have created their own “musical roads�. Tourists from all around drive to these locations in search of a moment of joy on their journey.

For many, this music is a cause of superficial joy and they are satisfied by the momentary feeling of happiness that comes from hearing the music; though they aren’t interested in looking into the source that creates this music. Others become so entranced by the feeling of joy the music produces that they have to pull over to look deeper into the source and really listen to the music, wanting to experience that joy over and over.

As Christians, Jesus is the source of our joy. When we have spent time with God, our joyous attitude becomes infectious to those we come in contact with. We become the “Musical Roadâ€� that others hear. Some will seek to be near us for a moment of joy; they’ll want to know more about where the source of our joy comes from. Yet others may have no interest in hearing our joyful music and ask us to move elsewhere and that’s ok, because at least they have heard and been in the presence of the Lord’s joyâ€"something they will remember as they continue through life’s journey. God has chosen us to be His vessels through which He can spread the fruit of the Spiritâ€"including joy! Seek to spend time near the Lord so your joyful song will be finely tuned for others to hear.

Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, fill me with your joy today and let me be the song others hear that brings them to you. Use me, Lord, for your glory, In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1.    Psalm 84:2 (ESV).

2.    Psalm 126:2 (NIV).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.