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Joy is a very elusive thing in this world. People want it. People need it. People will pursue every artificial means and pleasure conceivable to try to find it. Whatever joy can be found in such things is very temporary and false. Yet, the New Testament abounds with promises of joy. Few people seem to realize it. For those who do there are certain things about this subject that we all know:
We know that joy is not connected to physical things, even though they can bring joy. We know that joy and happiness are not the same, even though the Greek word for “joy,” in the New Testament, can also be rendered “happy.”
We say that joy for the Christian is not related to circumstances, but Jesus used an example of how joy is related to circumstances: “When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (Jn. 16:21–22).
Joy for the Christian is continual because of our relationship with Christ: “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1:8–9). We think of Philippians as “the epistle of joy” because the words “joy” and “rejoice” are mentioned 15 times (16 in the KJV). Additional words in the letter relate to joy, i.e., thanksgiving, peace, content(ed). We need to remember that joy in this book is not related to a positive mental attitude. It is a joy that is rooted in Christ even when suffering comes.
I’ve also heard it said that joy is the major theme in the book of Acts. I had always thought it was conversion. With the conversions recorded there is also attendant joy! (Acts 8:39) My prayer for the church overall, and for Mabelvale in particular, is that we retain a sense of optimism, confidence and joy in the truth. With such optimism and confidence the kingdom grows rather than shrinks.
We so often hear about are our weaknesses and faults: we are not evangelistic enough, we are not hard enough in our preaching, we are not serving enough, we are not this, we are not that. It is fashionable nowadays to be moody and negative and uncool to be upbeat and joyful.
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). What does that suggest to us? In part, if we are not producing the fruit of joy in our lives we are producing it’s opposite. If we are losing that fruit of the Spirit then something else will take its place. Why? Because Satan loves an empty house (Lk. 11:25-26).
What are times of joy in a congregation? When someone is baptized or restored. When someone places membership. When babies are born. When someone goes home from the hospital. When people visit with us.
Are we joyful when brethren are faithful in Jesus? When you look out over a gathering of faithful souls does it thrill you? When seasoned saints make it to worship services under more strain than most of us will ever know does it encourage you? When single or widowed people are always present, but sit alone does it amaze you? When families are present with babies making noise, does it excite you? When you worship with people who, for all practical purposes, are color blind, are you not delighted? John wrote, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 Jn. 4).