Filled with Joy
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (NIV) Philippians 4:4
I believe pain and happiness are matters of the mind. We have no power to control what happens to us but we have all the power to respond to anything that happens to us. In the Old Testament, the Israelites lost the joy of serving the Lord on many occasions because they became concerned more with material things than spiritual things. If we follow similar mindset, we will always end up frustrated like the Israelites.
Beloved, what do you consider as joy? Are you chasing the pleasures of life as happiness? Are you living to please your flesh as happiness? Engaging in life contrary to the word of God only produces temporal pleasures also seen as happiness. Using drugs or psycho-active agents to make feel good (artificial joy) will not produce the type of joy God intended for humanity.
God wants humanity to live in relationship with him. God is the only source of permanent joy. Dependability on God provides the right platform for eternal joy. Knowing God and having the right relationship with him is the best form of joy man can ever aspire. Our service to God and humanity is part of the means of experiencing joy on earth. Never assume service to God and man as a burden, but rather as an opportunity to experience joy. In whatever position or power you possess, use to glorify God. Serve as you will do unto God and not to man (Colossians 3:23).
Any time spent with God should be cherished than the time we spend on entertainment (sports, music, movies and food). King David was always glad to be at the house of God. There are so many reasons our lives should be filled with joy. Remember Christians have their sins blotted out by God and their names are in the book of life. You should be happy this morning because you have hope in Christ and heaven. Paul, in prison, was still inspiring Christians to be happy because he was thinking of heaven.
Working on the propagation of God’s Word should make you happy because your labour will not be in vain (1 Cor. 15:58). Many are not happy because we have not encountered Christ and are deep in sin. The demands of this world are choking many with depression. The only way out is to be in Christ and work for Christ. Enter the eternal joy of Christ.