How much joy do you have? Not just happiness with things, but joy that remains within you regardless of the situation. Do you have that kind of joy? Do you want that kind of joy? Do you know that it is available to you? It is the very reason Jesus gave us His teachings.
True joy is both easy and hard to come by. It is easy when we follow Jesus’ teachings and commands. It is hard when we listen to the world and are filled with the desires of it. We often chase after happiness rather than following Jesus to pure joy.
Why is the world so enticing? We like what I call shiny objects, things that catch our attention. They can be anything from jewelry to a beautiful partner, climbing the corporate ladder or chasing a professional sports career, getting the right dog or buying the right clothes. Shiny objects one and all…if we allow them to become the focus of our attention rather than Jesus.
But when we listen to Jesus’ teachings and seek to understand and follow them, we fine the pure joy we all desire. It is the type of joy we can only achieve through Jesus. The question we must answer is, will we believe it, or will we continue to chase temporary happiness to fill the void we have inside without His joy.
Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms that He has said everything He said so that we may have the same joy He has. That is the pure joy of knowing, not only Him, but God the Father. When He says that our joy will be complete, it means to come to full fruition, to be made whole, to be completely fulfilled. This is the joy our inner being desires.
I pray we all seek the pure joy of Jesus Christ. I pray we listen to and understand Jesus’ teachings. I pray each one of us will experience a full and complete joy as we follow Jesus’ commands. Seek pure joy. Listen to Jesus. Understand Jesus’ teachings. May your joy be made complete.
John 15:11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
Marty Pressey 