“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11, NIV
My friends, what brings you joy? Answers to that question are as numerous as there are people. The answer literally changes with each individual because we all are different. What brings me joy and what brings you joy may well be two totally different things. Yet, we all search for joy. Dear one, I have some good news for you. Jesus Christ has told us how to have fullness of joy and it is the same for every human being on the planet.
Are you ready? The answer is found in John 15:10-11,
Jesus said, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (NIV).
To know the fullness of joy, we must obey the commandments of Jesus. Those commandments have been summed up into two commands found in Matthew 22: 37-39. The Lord Jesus tells us, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Then Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” When you and I give our heart completely to God and then serve Him in caring for others, Jesus said that He would fill us with His Joy! Now friends, I believe you can agree, there is no greater joy in the world than the joy that Jesus can give!
Let me illustrate this to you. I recently read an article about a church in Knoxville, TN. The Church is located in the northern suburbs of the city. While on a mission trip to Ft. Lauderdale, members of the church ministered to a group of Haitians there. When they returned, the worship pastor remembered a letter he had received in the mail from an orphanage in Haiti that was asking for help. He had filed the letter away on his desk with the rest of his mail.
Shortly, the Holy Spirit began to move upon his heart about ministering to those children at the orphanage. He later shared that burden with the congregation, and in short, for the past seven years, White Stone Church has become an active part of the Coq Chante girl’s orphanage in Haiti. In fact, many of the members have adopted some of those beautiful children. They have found a joy in serving the Lord by ministering to others.
Peter wrote, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” 1 Peter 1:8 (NIV).
You can have fullness of joy if you follow the outline our Lord Jesus has given to us. If you will love God with ALL YOUR HEART, if you will love your neighbors AS YOURSELF, if you will obey what God is calling you to do, the joy of the Lord will fill your cup to overflowing!
