June 16, 2010
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Identity #33 – I Am Filled With Joy (John 17:13)
Jesus makes joy a priority for His disciples and tells them, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). Many Christians miss or ignore Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit, who Jesus promised would bring them great joy. Their lives tend to be dry and they tend to become more self centered since they are unaware of the Spirit pointing them towards God’s perfect will. Many other Christians view their life as a constant battle with Satan where there are sometimes victories and sometimes defeats and they always feel they are in a battle. Some of the most passionate Christians have this mindset, but outside of the times of clear victory, there is little joy in their lives.
But 1Thessalonians 5:16 is a command, and it reads: “Rejoice always.” Of the fruit of the Spirit, the second listed right after love is “joy.” Joy is to be a fruit of every Christian’s life. And that joy is to be constant, no matter the circumstances. Even during the worst moment of his life, Job managed to worship and proclaim, “Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Amidst all the terror around him, Job still knew God was in control and that God is good. And so Job was still able to find joy and worship. It doesn’t mean that Job didn’t mourn over his lost children and lost possessions, but amidst the sadness Job knew God is above all and that anything we receive here on earth is a gift from Him. Job knew to choose thankfulness for what he had rather than bitterness for what he lost.
Our love is not to be dependent on our day to day circumstances. We are called to love always. And in the same way, our joy isn’t to be dependent on our day to day circumstances. Both love and joy are choices, not responses or emotions. If we choose to focus on things in the physical realm and think mostly about ourselves, we will find ourselves both lacking in love and lacking in joy. But when we focus on the things of God and the things His Spirit reveals to us, we are captured by His love and we realize just how awesome God is and just how privileged we are to know Him. How could we not love? And how could we not be overjoyed?
This is another identity that we have to claim in order to truly experience in our lives. As we set our thoughts and our words upon Him, who He is, and every gift He has given us, we cannot help but express joy. And as we learn to walk according to the way of His Spirit and seek the things of God, we experience a joy incomparable (John 16:24). Please repeat after me, “In Christ, I am filled with joy!” Amen.
