Do You Need to Find Some True Joy?

Who is the best example of true joy that you know?

For me, it’s Jesus.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  John 15:11

Jesus was teaching the disciples about remaining in him.  He was explaining how he is the vine and his Father is the gardener.  “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.”  (John 15:9) By remaining in him, listening to him and keeping in obedience with him, he promises his joy will be in us and our joy will then be complete.

What is the number one reason why you think Jesus had true joy all the time?  I believe it’s because he knew his title as Son.  He remained in the Father and did only what the Father asked him to do, and by doing this, he lived a life of service.  He served others every single day and ultimately served you and me on the cross.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to just have joy on the inside when life feels good.  I want to live in the complete joy that is promised.  And I have discovered that this is best lived out through serving others.  When I am serving others, there is an indescribable joy that fills me up.  I believe this is the same joy that lived in Jesus.

These acts of kindness, the action of serving, can be as small as a friendly smile and wave to someone in your neighborhood to as large as laying down ones life for another.  If we could show others even a fraction of the kindness that Jesus has shown us…we will make a difference.

The point is, let’s not put off until tomorrow what we can do today!  Let’s get going and do something nice for someone else today!

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:37-39

Blessings,

The Johnstons