But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance – Gal 5:22-23
The underlying Greek for the word “joy” is “chara” which is defined as joy, delight and gladness.
Where do we find joy?
In another person?
In family?
How about in exercise and health?
Maybe it’s in a day at the mall with lots of money to spend …
Those are the things a worldly view might tell us will bring us joy, but when they do, it’s either self indulgent or temporary or both. God wants you to invest in a joy that will last forever – a kind of joy that anyone can have.
Look at some places the Bible says to find joy:
- Our Faith: Philippians 1:25. There is no reason to be fearful or worry when we have Faith.
- Our Challenges: James 1:2. Who we are and what we know comes from experience – both good and bad.
- Our Obedience: Acts 8:5-8 records joy in the city when the Samaritans were saved. Acts 8:35-39 tells us the Eunuch went away rejoicing after his baptism.
Where joy is not found:
- Sin, the opposite of obedience, brings fear: Hebrews 10:26-27
- Fleshly pleasures: Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 Solomon discovers that having all he wants results in no profit and vexation.
A truly joyful life then, comes from a little sacrifice now, preparing for God’s big reveal of what he has waiting for us.
Daily Bible reading for July 14
Ecclesiastes 8
Joshua 13-14
Jeremiah 7:1-8:3
Matthew 22:15-46
July 14, 2013
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