For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...Eph 5:9
Winter 2007 Volume 8, Issue 1 |
Christian Joy: Living With Enthusiasm |
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egrettably, many Christians live their lives devoid of any real joy within their hearts. When such is the case, you can be assured that "something is wrong somewhere!" Because those truly "led by the Spirit of God" (see Rom. 8:14; II Tim. 3:16-17; Gal. 5:16) have imbibed the "Spirit of Christ" (Rom. 8:9), and therefore manifest the fruit of the Spirit in the lives they live (Gal. 5:22-25). Thankfully, these "fruits" of the Spirit are clearly observed in numerous genuine Christians. But it breaks my heart when I see professed Christians going around with unhappy countenances, as if they had lost their best friends. Believe me; I've encountered many such brethren. As the inspired writer, James, would say, "my brethren, these things ought not so to be" (Jas. 3:10b). Let it be duly noted that one very important "fruit of the Spirit" is joy! Such will put a song in our hearts and a smile on our faces! The source of the Christian's joy, is of course, Jesus Christ, our Savior! The words penned by the apostle Peter so long ago concerning Him should be true in the hearts of every child of God: "whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye REJOICE GREATLY WITH JOY UNSPEAKABLE and full of glory" (I Pet. 1:8, ASV). When members of the church will take the time to earnestly ponder, and plumb the depths of the sacrifice of the Son of God in our behalf, and consider the terrible ruination from which He has delivered us, surely we would in fact rejoice! Remember, sin brings death (note Rom. 5:12; 6:23a; Jas. 1:13-15). But Christ "tasted death" for every man (read Heb. 2:9-15), bearing "our sins in His body" on the cross (I Pet. 1:24), giving Himself for |
us in order to deliver us (Gal. 1:4), manifesting God's infinite love and mercy in so doing (Rom. 5:8-11; Eph. 2:1-9; Titus 3:4-7), that we might "become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Cor. 5:21). Indeed, as someone said, "the Son of God became the son of man that the sons of men might become the sons of God." It seems to me that what the apostle Paul expressed ought to help us along these lines. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich" (II Cor. 8:9, ASV). If all that is not sufficient cause for rejoicing with "joy unspeakable," then I don't know what it would take to make us happy! Christians have been delivered from eternal ruin and damnation through Christ, and given a "living hope" of heaven (I Pet. 1:3-4) to buoy us up and anchor our souls o’er the troubled seas of life (Heb. 6:19). Even though we will encounter opposition and even persecution (II Tim. 3:12), we can do so with exceeding gladness and joy (Matt. 5:12). So, true Christians "take heart" in this troubled world wherein we presently reside, and let us "rejoice in the Lord always" (Phil. 3:1; 4:4). And as we rejoice, may we resolve to serve Him fervently, "rejoicing in hope" (Rom. 12:11-12). Let us be "steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord" (I Cor. 15:58). As brother Tillit S. Teddlie wrote, combining words from two of his songs: "heaven holds all to me...heaven will surely be worth it all!" Maxie B. Boren |
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