Joy is a fruit of the Spirit which should, like all fruit, grow. Joy of the Lord which I think means joy being one of God’s children and doing his will should also grow as we get to know him better.
However unfortunately, so many Christians are anything but joyful. Too many seem dour as if serving God is more akin to slavery than sonship. You remember the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son who said to the Father, ‘All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders’ Luke 15: 29. He had no joy in anything and especially in the return of the younger brother. He was bitter and resentful. Many are talking about the Father heart of God at this time because this is a great truth that needs to be restored to the church. None of us has any idea of how much our Father really loves us but as we start to get a revelation of his amazing, unconditional love, something starts to melt inside us. That desire to perform, to strive, to please God by our own efforts gives way to relaxing in the arms of a loving Father who wants to bathe us in his love and acceptance. Doing gives way to being – being a son or daughter of the living God.
When Paul and Silas were in prison in Philippi having been wrongly accused and beaten, they didn’t lie there feeling sorry for themselves. They were praying and singing hymns and everyone in the prison was listening to them. There was an earthquake and all the prison doors came open but instead of escaping, Paul led the jailer and his family to the Lord. The joy of the Lord, praising God in adverse circumstances led to salvation.
No matter what our circumstances, God is always worthy of praise. Praise and thanksgiving take us into God’s courts and presence and joy in the midst of our circumstances washes over us. The world is desperate to know some joy and to know the love of God shown through the lives of believers who despite their circumstances have the joy of the Lord. This is not a phoney superficial joy that is masking the reality of our lives but a joy that comes from knowing a Father God who loves us and is strengthening us in our circumstances.
Non believers need a testimony that is real and is not about what good Christians we are, or what a good church we go to but what an amazing loving God we have, who knows and loves them as well. It is the love of God that draws and wins people and it is the joy of the Lord in our hearts that strengthens and encourages us. It is a powerful witness to those searching for something that the world cannot give. When you start to show and tell people that God loves them born from your own experience, something inside of them starts to melt as well. They see a joy and a love that is compelling. If you are feeling miserable, unworthy, unloved then start praising God and thanking him for who he is. His love and acceptance is healing and his joy will come and strengthen you in the midst of your circumstances.
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