Topic: Experiencing God’s Joy [Archbishop Margaret E. Benson Idahosa] Above Only Daily Devotional April 21 2020
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Experiencing God’s Joy
John 15:9-12 (NLT) I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
John 17:13 (NIV) “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
There is a great connection between your level of joy and the extent of strength and productivity that you experience in life. In Nehemiah 8:10b the Bible says, “… for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Your joy even affects the fruitfulness of everything around you. Joel 1:12 says, “The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.” Now, have you ever wondered how joyful Jesus is as a person? How would your life be if you maintained that same level of joy in you? From today, nothing and no one will be able to steal your joy. Like Jesus, you will have divine joy that cannot be depleted or diminished by anything or anyone. You will be so full of joy that it will overflow into the lives of everyone around you and it will reflect in everything you do. This is Jesus’ desire for you.
In our text above, Jesus tells us a few things that should fill us with His joy. He wants us to remain in His love and He wants us to receive and practice His world.
We remain in His love through fellowship and faith. As we fill our hearts with His word, His love also fills our heart wand we are able to reflect that love to others. Nothing gave Jesus as much joy and satisfaction as doing and finishing the Father’s will, John 4:34. He wants us to rejoice that we know Him and that our names are written in Heaven, Luke 10:17-21. This is what produces every other victory in our lives. He wants us to rejoice about getting souls saved, Luke 15:7. We are the joy that was set before Jesus as He suffered and died for us, Heb. 12:2. He saw His glory that our lives would reflect because of His death for us. As you focus on Jesus, He will keep filling you with His joy.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, please fill me with your love and with the revelation of Christ. Help me to keep my eyes always on Jesus. Fill me with the joy of Jesus.
Bible in one year reading plan:
- 2 Samuel 14-15
- Luke 17:1-19