The Fullness of Joy

Primary Scripture: John 15:11

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

What is the difference between happiness and joy?

Happiness is usually connected to what is happening around us. We get something we have wanted, spend time doing something we enjoy, or receive good news, and we are happy.

But what happens when life does not go the way we planned?

That is where joy is different.

True joy is not dependent upon everything around us going well. Joy comes from what God is doing inside of us. That means we can walk through trials and difficult seasons and still have joy because our joy is found in Jesus Christ.

John 15 gives us a roadmap for living with that kind of joy.

The first thing Jesus teaches us is to abide in Him. To abide means to remain. We stay close to Christ, depend upon Him, and live in obedience to Him. Jesus tells us that when we abide in Him, we bear much fruit. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

So let me ask you: What kind of fruit is your life producing?

The second thing we must do is abide in His Word. We need to read the Bible, study it, memorize it, think about it, and allow it to shape the way we live. The more time we spend in God’s Word, the more our focus begins to become God’s focus.

God still speaks to us through His Word. If we want to know His will and learn how to live obediently, we need to spend time in the Bible.

Third, we must abide in His love. Sometimes we may begin to believe that we have messed up too badly for God to love us. But Jesus Christ came to redeem sinners.

Our failures do not change what Christ has done for those who belong to Him.

Because we have been redeemed, we should desire to live differently. We strive to follow Christ, keep His commandments, and do the Father’s will rather than our own.

Jesus Himself showed us this. His joy came from doing the will of His Father. If we want the joy of Jesus in our lives, obedience cannot be separated from it.

Psalm 16:11 says, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.”

That brings us back to a simple question: Are we spending time in the presence of God?

• Are we reading His Word?

• Are we praying?

• Are we worshiping Him?

God does not want our joy to constantly rise and fall like a roller coaster depending on our circumstances. Jesus said that His joy could be in us and that our joy could be full.

• Abide in Christ.

• Abide in His Word.

• Abide in His love.

Saturate your life with the things of Jesus Christ, and allow Him to fill you with the kind of joy that circumstances cannot take away.

Get into His presence, my friends.

Prayer:Lord, help us remain close to You. Give us a desire for Your Word, help us walk in Your love and obedience, and teach us to find our joy in You rather than in our circumstances. Fill us with the joy that only You can give. In Jesus’ name, amen.