crumbs26

 

Crumbs from the Master ‘s Table 26 : Joy

John 16:19-24 NIV  Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Crumbs

Accepting the Gospel is not the reversal of all our troubles. Jesus predicts sorrow ahead butultimate and secure joy. As I study Scripture I have become convinced that Christian hope refers to something heavenly to be held in our hearts now but realised in the hereafter. In the Greek New Testament the word for joy is used over fifty times. It seems to describe the way we react to the various experiences and relationships that life brings us. The positive reaction is joy. Some basics have hit me. 1, It is a divine quality. In Luke 15:7 Jesus tells us that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. In Romans 14: 17 Paul teaches God’s kingdom is a matter of joy along side righteousness and peace. 2. It comes with accepting the Gospel. 1Thessalonians 1:6 is a vital text here. The Holy Spirit plays His vital part in establishing a relation between the unbeliever and God which results in joy. 3. It comes from Christian fellowship. This is particularly evident in the letter to the Philippians. Love among believers leads to joy when they interact. 4. It is developmental . We do not get complete joy straight away when we first realise our relationship with God in Christ. Paul and John write about the completing of joy. 5. It is part of our reaction to the hard things of life. In the passage above Jesus describes that putting up with grief can lead to joy. James develops this;James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,”

Queries ( for private thought or joint discussion)

1. How does the Spirit of God act in our lives to give us joy? 2. What can we do to give our fellow believers joy? 3. What would promote joy in the face of life’s troubles ?

 Please note that this is also published on my blog along with poems and other items on https://pmgsblog.blogspot.com