Got Joy?

Do these words of Jesus seem to apply to everyone except you?

• John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
• John 17:13 “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.

Jesus says that His followers could experience His joy. He said that they not only should have His joy but also that they would experience His full joy. How are you doing? Does your joy seem to come and go? Do the worries of tomorrow rob you of your joy today? With the tough economic times and the social upheaval it is not really unexpected that most people would find it tough to live a life full of rejoicing. But this is in fact the command of God to His children.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always;

Can this be possible? As hard as it is to believe, it is possible to rejoice even in the toughest of times. From the beginning of Creation God has given men the option of finding a joy that transcends financial hardship and other distresses.

• 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.

• 1 Peter 1:6-8 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

In the next few weeks let us look into this joy and begin to make it our own. If you spend any time talking to Christians it is obvious that this kind of joy is elusive but even so, the important thing is to realize that it is possible to have the joy of Jesus in its fullness. Not only is it possible but it is promised to His followers. In order to realize Christ’s joy in our lives it is necessary to understand a few things about the promise of joy and also a few things about ourselves. Let us begin.

Why is a lasting joy so hard to find?

 The American College Dictionary defines joy as, “an emotion of keen or lively pleasure arising from present or expected good; exultant satisfaction; delight.” All people have an innate desire to be happy, to find joy in this life. We live in a world that takes this natural desire for joy in life and funnels it towards the pursuit of things which only give a passing joy or happiness. The Bible warns us against looking for joy in the things of this world.

• 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Even in the United States, a Christian nation, there is a concerted effort to remove God from all segments of society further removing from its people the source of lasting joy leaving only the transient joy given by the things of this world. The world offers many types of temporary joys. People find their joy in things they eat and drink. They find joy in their job or in their success. People even find their joy in entertainment, or material possessions.

What is wrong in finding joy in these temporary things? The problem is that people were created to enjoy God.

• Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

God is not a temporary source of joy. He does not change; the gifts that He gives are always good and perfect and He will always be there for us.

• James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

He is the Northern star for our joy. Since our joy was built to be placed in a constant source, when our joy is placed in a temporary source and we begin to rely on it, when it disappears our joy goes with it. We experience feelings of depression, of helplessness, and of isolation which for us becomes intense wiping out any joy we had just a moment ago.

Wonder why it is so tough to find a lasting joy? Are you placing your joy in the things of this world? Have you made God your joy? If not, it is the place to start. More next week.