"And these things write we unto, that your joy may be full." John, and the other biblical writers, wrote about the joy that they had in Jesus. In our text John referred to "full joy." This set me to thinking how we can describe full joy. Following is my attempt to share at least part of the full joy that belongs to every Christian. . Full joy is joy in Jesus. The Apostle John was a follower of Jesus from the beginning of His earthly ministry. I imagine that John had experienced joy before he met, and followed Jesus, but when Jesus came into his life, his joy was full. Jesus was the person who elevated John's joy in living. Jesus adds full joy to those who accept Him as Savior. The kind of joy that Jesus gives us is not erased by negative things that happen in our lives. Since we are human beings, we need to remind ourselves that our joy is not in what happens in our lives; instead our joy is in our personal relationship with Jesus. I have personally learned that this is true in the last few years through cancer and a stroke. These things erased a lot of things in my life, but they did not erase the joy I have in Jesus. You might need to be reminded of this. Look to Jesus! Full joy is joy in our fellowship with other Christians. This is the reason that we "have church" every week. We will occasionally have fellowship troubles. I have served Churches for about sixty years. I have had fellowship problems, but none of these problems stole the joy that I have in Jesus and the joy that I have in serving Him. All of my relationships have not been positive, and sometimes I have had to wrestle with the flesh, but because of Jesus I have not been overcome with the hatred that is really a joy killer. Satan is in the business of trying to cause us to dislike or hate, people that we have problems with. Do not let Satan tamper with the joy that you have in Jesus by his attempt to break the joy that you have in your fellow Christians. Please do not think that it has always been easy for me to remember the gift of joy, but it has always been necessary. Full joy is joy that should be shared. Jesus did not give us full joy to keep to ourselves. Actually we should want to share Jesus' joy with other people. Jesus shared joy in His earthly ministry. He continues to share His joy with us. John shared this joy in his first letter. This did not mean that Jesus was never angry, and it does not mean that we will never be angry. Anger becomes a sin when we hang onto it, and refuse let it go. Jesus was angry with those who defiled the temple, but He still went to the cross for them. Make it a point to share the joy that you have in Jesus with other people. Let nothing interfere with the joy, and love. that you have in Jesus. Live it and share it! Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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