Weekend Words

From The Bible Promise Book Devotional...

Made to Rejoice

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4 NASB

There is something wonderful and mysterious about Christian joy.  It's both emotional and deeply rooted in truth, both a command from God and a blessing to be received.  To rejoice is to be happy because of who God is and what He has done, but it's different from the transient happiness that accompanies life's ups and downs.  In fact, joy often results from tribulation, a by-product of the hope that God works out for you as you persevere through hardship (Romans 5:4).

Jesus covers joy's full scope in His teachings: "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11 NKJV).  He spoke words of instruction and caution, humbling words full of promise and hope - and His desire seems to be that, as you follow and obey Him, He rejoices in you, which is certainly cause for you to rejoice.

Rejoicing, then, is also both action and response.  God rejoices when you abide in Him, bearing fruit by His power and grace (John 15:4), and you rejoice when you are of service to Him.  To be joyful is to be actively obedient to God, even as you enjoy the peace and blessing of just belonging to Him.

When I am following You, totally focused on doing Your will, Lord, that's when I feel my greatest moments of joy.  Help me to remember that.  Amen

From Beside the Still Waters...

Christ's Joy vs. Mere Happiness - Read: John 15:9-27

"These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves" - John 17:13

The Pennsylvania welcome sign invites residents and visitors with these words, "Pursue Your Happiness." It's true that God arranged the land with breathtaking views of mountains, valleys, and rivers.  But excursions to explore the beautiful sights and sounds of nature finally come to an end, and vacationists need to get back into the normal routine of living.  Then what happens to happiness?

Jesus offers joy that underlies all other forms of God-sanctioned happiness.  But He offers it on certain conditions.  In the verses before today's Bible reading, Jesus said we need to abide in Him, the true Vine.  This presupposes that we are connected to the Vine through the new birth.  Then the sap of His joy will flow into us, the branches.  As His joy flows in, our joy becomes 'full'!

Nehemiah 8:10 tells us, "The joy of the Lord is your strength."  With this strength we can bear "much fruit," which glorifies God.  Bearing spiritual fruit brings personal joy.  In fact, joy is the second element of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).  What a joy it is to glorify God and bless others with the fruit we bear!

Another condition for having Christ's joy remain in us is to "keep his commandments."  Just as a child experiences happiness in obeying his parents, so Christ's disciples find joy in obeying Him.  Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you."  Love is the first element of the fruit of the Spirit, and it provides a fertile seedbed in which joy can flourish.

 Dennis Martin- Smithville, TN

Mere happiness is fleeting; Christ's joy is enduring.