The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 15:10-11,
"If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
Jesus said if we kept his commands his joy would be in us. Imagine that! We can bring joy to the Son of God! In the very next verse Jesus told his followers what his command is, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." Verse 15. We are to love one another just as Jesus Christ loves us.
This makes our level of joy a barometer in our lives. If we seem to be lacking joy, we might want to look at how well we are keeping this command of his.
I believe joy is something that should be an evident characteristic in our lives. Joy should be the "natural state" of our disposition when we are right with God. Peter talks about joy in the believer's life, "Though you have not seen him [Jesus Christ], 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 end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8-9.
Paul points out that among other things, the kingdom of God is about joy, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval." Romans 14:17-18. Joy should be the standard condition of the believer's life.
We are told to rejoice in the Lord! "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Paul says, "Rejoice always..."
"If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
Jesus said if we kept his commands his joy would be in us. Imagine that! We can bring joy to the Son of God! In the very next verse Jesus told his followers what his command is, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." Verse 15. We are to love one another just as Jesus Christ loves us.
This makes our level of joy a barometer in our lives. If we seem to be lacking joy, we might want to look at how well we are keeping this command of his.
I believe joy is something that should be an evident characteristic in our lives. Joy should be the "natural state" of our disposition when we are right with God. Peter talks about joy in the believer's life, "Though you have not seen him [Jesus Christ], 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 end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8-9.
Paul points out that among other things, the kingdom of God is about joy, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval." Romans 14:17-18. Joy should be the standard condition of the believer's life.
We are told to rejoice in the Lord! "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Paul says, "Rejoice always..."
How is our level of joy today?
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!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment