Let’s consider the sort of life that flows from God into us and through us. This is part four of a four part series. Read parts one (spiritual fruit), two (powerful prayer), and three (sacrificial love) now.
Full Joy
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:9-11
Joy is serious business. It’s right to draw a distinction between joy and happiness. We like to say that happiness is more circumstantial, and joy is more foundational. Joy is not just a mood. It’s a helpful distinction. I recently performed a funeral, and no one there was happy, but there is a sense in which we were sorrowful yet always rejoicing.
I do want to caution drawing that line too neatly, though. Because though joy is more than a mood, it’s not less than a mood. We are really good at separating our beliefs from our lives and using this Christianese vocabulary to deceive ourselves about our true spiritual state. Church folks often know just enough Bible language to shield themselves from all the Bible they don’t obey. Oh yeah, I have joy, all kinds of it. We know we’re supposed to say that. But if we’re honest, we don’t always have that joy.
We think we need something we don’t yet have to be at peace, to be happy, to be settled–to have joy. We need more money, more stuff, better friends, more friends, heck, friends at all. We need a new job, 25 less pounds, more rest, a vacation.
You may need some of these things; I’m sure they’re helpful. But if you have the love of Jesus, you have more than enough reason to rejoice.
Jesus knows what’s best for you.
Jesus wants what’s best for you.
Jesus will give you what’s best for you.
He has given you himself–an anchor in the storm seas, a tether for your joy.
You may lose everything, but as long as you have Jesus, friend, you can have joy. Because in Jesus you have a friend who will never leave you.
Friendship with Jesus
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
John 15:14-17
No longer do I call you servants. I’ve told you everything the Father has told me. I chose you to bear fruit, to pray in my name, to have joy, and to love each other. I chose you, Jesus teaches, to be my friends.
Do you know the friendship of Jesus?