Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Can You Spell "Joy"


1 John 1:4 “We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”

I read a story about two laborers working on some street improvement in front of a church one Sunday morning. After watching the people filing in for the Worship Service, one of them said to the other, “You know, I’ve seen one or two hundred people go into that church, and I haven’t seen a single smile on any one of their faces.” That is tragic indeed.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of joy, as well as of grace, peace, and love. The Webster’s dictionary defines the word “joy” as: Gayety; mirth; festivity. Happiness; felicity. A glorious and triumphant state. To rejoice; to be glad; to exult. Habakkuk 3:18 says, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” At the birth of Christ, the angels said to the shepherds that they brought good tidings of great joy. The Apostle Paul says in Galatians 5:22-25 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Pastor Kennedy asks: “Are our lives typified by joy? In looking at some people’s faces, you wouldn’t think that they had much joy. They seem often to frown and be sullen and unhappy and show little of the joy of Christ in their countenance. Some people seen like the only experience that they have had is the fleeting temporal passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, instead of the transforming wondrous and lasting joy of Jesus Christ.


Nehemiah 8:10b “For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

I remember back when I used to teach Sunday School at our church’s elementary school age class. One young lady told me the meaning of “joy”. If you want to experience more joy, remember this simple formula: J-O-Y means Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last.
Lord, give us the strength for today to put Jesus first and others second. God of joy, thank you for giving us so much joy all around us and joy within us. Let your joy overflow unto all the people around us today and thank you the joy of heaven forever.

Blessings.


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