Filled with the joy of the Lord
When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15:8-11
From the text, our Lord Jesus Christ is telling us what brings glory to the Father. When His followers are living their lives producing fruit, the Father is glorified. After all, as soon as a person comes to the saving knowledge of Christ purpose in life is to glorify the Lord. “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). God is glorified when we live in accordance with His will. The resulting benefit to us when we know we are living out the life God gave us is that our life is filled with joy. Real joy is dependent on how we are abiding in Christ. So if you are not experiencing joy it could be that you are not abiding in Him. Joy is the result of God working within us through the Holy Spirit. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...” (Galatians 5:22). The experience of joy in one’s life is not dependent on what or how much circumstances we have. It is not prompted or stimulated by external events. The reason why God wants His children to pursue the joy that comes alone from Him is because if they settle to experience happiness, it will be short-lived and will always be dependent on external circumstances. The feeling of happiness increases or decrease depending on the changes in circumstances. The Apostle Paul discovered the no matter what circumstance he has, joy can be a constant experience. “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! (Philippians 4:4). Despite his physical condition of being imprisoned, his joy will not diminish. His source of joy comes from within through his relationship with God. No matter how difficult his circumstances were, he will still find a reason to be joyful. “This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:7-9). A believer whose life is fully surrendered to God will realize that real joy is always possible. This is because of God’s working within through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. When we place our focus on our circumstances, joy will disappear. Remain in God’s love no matter what you are facing and fix your eyes on Christ who promised that His joy is yours.
Blessings,
