The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Thessalonians 1:6,
"You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit."
I note that joy is given by the Holy Spirit. We are told the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us when we embrace Jesus Christ in faith, 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5. It is that indwelling of the Spirit as God's presence in our lives that brings us joy.
We are told that Jesus himself, when he was here, experienced the joy the Holy Spirit brings, "At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said..." Luke 10:21. Likewise, the early church experienced joy in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, "The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Acts 13:52. Paul tells us joy in the Holy Spirit is ours as members of God's kingdom, Romans 14:17.
Joy is innate in our relationship with God. It is who God is and what he is like that produces joy within our hearts. The wonderful things God does, the splendor of his very nature brings joy. To approach God, to connect with God, to sense God's presence brings an indomitable and insurmountable joy. The scriptures are rich in expressing this wonderful joy that is ours as we embrace God. Peter tells us, "Though you have not seen him, 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..." 1 Peter 1:8.
We are told that joy is one of the many things the Holy Spirit brings us as God's children, Galatians 5:22. This joy is such that the painful and difficult experiences we have in life cannot separate us from it. Not that we will be spared possible grief, bereavement, pain and so forth. But in the midst of even the painful experiences we have, joy from God is there to provide us comfort and aid in our time of need. Note that it was in the midst of "severe suffering" Paul observed this joy in the lives of these Thessalonian believers.
To know God, to embrace him in our lives, brings us a joy like nothing this world can provide. This speaks to me of how wonderful and magnificent our God is - a reflection of his matchless nature when we come to know him.
It is no wonder this gray world views us as odd-balls!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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