Joy. It may not an attribute of God you have recently thought about. But it should be! It is one of the communicable attributes that the Heavenly Father graciously gives to Christians. “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17). G.K. Chesteron wrote, “Joy which was the small publicity of the pagan is the gigantic secret of the Christian.”What has your joy be in over the past 24 hours, the last week, the last month or the last year? Is it in Jesus Christ? C.S. Lewis wrote, “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far to easily pleased.”
The Journey of Joy. . .
Joy: It Begins at Salvation. Joy begins for the believer in Jesus Christ at salvation. It is in the person of Jesus Christ. “Though you have not seen him (Jesus), you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).
Joy: It is the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22). If you are Christian, joy in Jesus is what we must demonstrate to a world. It is command. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Joy: It is in God and Jesus Christ. “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11).
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15:11)
Joy: God Gives It. “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You wth the oil of joy above Your fellows” (Psalm 45:7)
Joy: Jesus Christ is our Example.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3).
Joy: It Culminates in Heaven. Live as a stranger and pilgrim in this life focused on seeing Jesus face to face in Heaven.
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” (Psalm 73:25).
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20)
“Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” C.S. Lewis
What is the chief end of man?
