Thursday, May 17, 2012

Branches Get Joy from the Vinedresser

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.

Insights:  Joy is an outflow of the manifest presence of God in your life.  In other words, as you abide in the Lord and find your satisfaction in Him, joy is experienced.  It is a bi-product of abiding.  In our society we often times get joy and happiness confused.  In fact, many parents believe their role is to make their children happy.  The problem with this line of thought is that happiness is dependent upon external stimuli.  A child gets a toy, they are happy.  A teenager rides a roll-a-coaster, they are happy.  A man and woman walk and isle and get married, they are happy.  Let me use this marriage illustration for a moment.  If they are presently happy, then why do over 50% marriages end in divorce?  It is because we have confused happiness and joy.  Joy is not an external stimulus, but rather, an internal relationship with a holy God.  As one grows in their relationship with Christ the more joy is a constant aspect of their lives.  If they begin to walk away from the Lord, that joy diminishes.  Psalm 16:11 states, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  What the psalmist is confirming is that joy is found in God’s presence only.  John 16:22 informs us, “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.”  So, no person or spirit can take our joy from us.  Then, Beloved, why do we not always live in joy?  It is because we walk away from the Father’s presence.  In Acts 16 we see the story of Paul and Silas doing amazing work for the Lord and they are arrested for doing good and preaching the gospel.  They are beaten and thrown in to jail naked.  Do you know what the Scriptures tell us these two men were doing at midnight?  They were singing and praising God because their hearts were full of joy.  What in your life takes you away from the presence of God?  Jesus tells us He gives us His joy and that it is full.  All that is required is us abiding in Him.  If we will abide, we will find satisfaction in Jesus and know joy.

Questions:
  1. Is your life characterized as one of joy?
  2. Are you abiding in Christ and letting His joy be your joy?
Prayer: Jesus, my Savior, You offer me joy and joy to the fullest.  Unfortunately, my life is often times not characterized in this fashion.  Forgive me of my disobedient heart and prune me of anything that would hinder my joy which is found in You.  Let me experience You to the full.  Amen.

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