Join in the Joy
Through the years, I have frequently preached about joy. It is more than an emotion (although it includes emotion); rather, it is a settled attitude, a stable and sturdy approach to life that focuses us on the things that matter now and forever. Joy is much greater and much more powerful than happiness, which is event or circumstance driven. There is nothing wrong with happiness. It is certainly better than unhappiness. Also, we have different personalities. For example, my wife is happy-go-lucky. Of course, she has every reason to be, being married to me. However, not everyone can be married to me. We need something more substantial than happiness; that something is joy. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Three weeks ago, we studied Hebrews 12:2, but it is useful to return to this verse that states clearly that joy sustained Jesus while He was dying on the Cross. It is highly unlikely that any of us would think to connect “joy” and “Cross,” but God’s Word is straightforward on this point. Yesterday, we looked at the direct link between prayer, fruitful obedience, and joy (John 15:7-8, 11; 16:24). The greatest example of this prayerfully obedient joy is found in the Cross. Jesus prayed for the Father’s will to be done (Luke 22:42), for the forgiveness of His tormentors (Luke 23:34), and for His committal into the Father’s hands (Luke 23:46). If we ask for God’s joy (John 16:24), even in the hardest of trials and tribulations, He will provide it and sustain us.