Joy…Where do you find it when you lost it?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 22: JOY”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 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. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Ever struggle to have joy?
I know I do.
It’s usually because I have based my joy on my external circumstances or situation and forgotten that joy isn’t found simply in the condition of the externals, but in the work and words of my God.
Jesus wanted his disciples and us, for that matter, to have a joy that is complete. The word “complete” isn’t just “I’m done and there’s no more joy to be had” but rather “full joy,” in that you will have discovered and experienced all there is to know and experience about joy.
So where is that?
Jesus identifies two places.
- In his Father’s love
- Obeying his Father’s commands.
What is ironic about the setting of these two phrases is Jesus is about 24 hours from hanging on a cross.
Yet he’s finding joy.
Jesus knew his Father loved him. His baptism three plus years earlier and his transfiguration just a short time prior affirmed from the Father, “This is my son…whom I love…”
He knew the cross was before him, but he wanted “my joy to be in you.” Joy in going to the cross? Yep.
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Jesus knew how much the Father loved him. He knew how much he loved his disciples. It gave him joy to express that love by giving up his life for his friends.
Lacking joy? Perhaps it’s time to go back to the love of the Father that gave his one and only Son to be your Savior.
Also ironic is that Jesus connects obeying his Father’s commands with joy. Usually we think of joy is being without commands, without limits, or without accountability.
Here’s what John realized and wrote in his first letter:
1 John 5:2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,…”
Our Father’s commands are not burdensome because the come from a heart of love. Because they come from a heart of love, the commands the Father gives are intended to be a blessing to us as we keep them. The Father isn’t in heaven just waiting for us to break a command and zap us for it, he is in heaven encouraging us to follow his commands because there is great blessing in it.
For example…
There is great blessing in respecting human life and seeking to preserve it versus demean and seek to end it.
There is great blessing in putting the best construction on people’s words and actions versus being condescending and judgmental about it.
The list would go on.
Every command is given to be a blessing. When we enjoy the blessing of God we find joy.
So if we are lacking in joy, perhaps its our loving Father’s call to come walk in his commands and find the joy and blessing of doing so.
Apply: Which of these causes you to lack joy the most often? A) drifting away from the Father’s love? B) Drifting away from the Father’s commands?
Prayer: Father, thank you for the great love you have shown to us by sending Jesus for us and by giving us your commands to walk each day in your blessing. When we drift from joy, lead us back to your heart of love and your gift of commands to experience the complete joy you gave to your Son Jesus. AMEN.
Joy…Even on a Monday?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 22: JOY”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This verse was a mainstay in our home. My dad would often send us on our day with this verse as a reminder. While I don’t remember every day, this verse still comes to mind.
However, I have to admit, and perhaps you do too. To rejoice EVERY day is tough.
Not every day is easy. Not every day is pleasant. Not every day has good news. Not every day is filled with amazing adventures or interactions.
But yet, the psalmists makes a universal statement that is true about each day:
“This is THE day the LORD has made.”
Which yields the response:
“Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
The very fact we are blessed with another day from the Lord is reason itself to rejoice…to have joy.
Yep…even on a Monday!
But what exactly is joy? What does it mean to rejoice? What are the blessings in having joy each day? This week will unpack some of those questions. (If you haven’t listened to Sunday’s message, do that today as well to gain a wider scope of joy.)
Perhaps we have to start with a definition of joy. Here are three components of joy:
- Joy is an inner condition of contentment, good pleasure and happiness which creates in outward
Joy leads to rejoicing. What is happening on the inside of a person leads to the outward expression…even though what is happening on the outside often feeds the inner condition.
However,
2. Joy is dependent on who the Lord is and what he does rather than on who we are or what is happening around us.
Joy is a constant. The Bible talks of joy as something that exists no matter what the external circumstances. It also connects joy to the words and work of the LORD. When I realize that the Lord is working in and through and around me, it feeds the joy in my heart.
So, we realize too that…
3. Joy is a gift of the Spirit of God
“The fruit of the Spirit is … joy.” (Galatians 5:22)
Nehemiah 12:43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy.
Joy is a gift of God based on the work of God that affects our heart which leads to outward expression.
So since today is a gift of God…it is a day the Lord has made…
We can rejoice and be glad in it…perhaps it’s just taking time to focus first on what God IS doing in your life today…what opportunities he is presenting…what love he is showing…what blessings he is giving…what promises he is keeping…and much more…will give us reason to rejoice!
Apply: Take time to reflect on the above phrases. What reasons do you have today to rejoice?
Prayer: Lord thank you for today. Lead me to use the gift of joy you have given to me to spend the day rejoicing! AMEN.
Love…Let Others See God!
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 21: LOVE”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
When am I ever going to use this?
How many times in grade school, high school or college did you ask this question? Perhaps it was while you were studying for a test on the French Revolution, trying to understand Shakespeare’s writing or trying to formulate a proof for geometry class. What’s the purpose?
Perhaps we had a case. Researchers found that an average high school student in adulthood forgets 40% of what they were taught and uses about 37% of what they learned. So almost 2 out of 3 hours of learning have dropped by the wayside.[1]
Without trying to play educator and propose an alternative curriculum or learning style, the point is this: When we invest in something, we want to see a good rate of return on our investment.
We can also say the same thing about the Lord. He wants to see a return on his love for us!
So is the ROI on God’s love about 37%?
Maybe another way to look at it, when given the opportunity to show love do we fail 2 out of three times?
Perhaps this is hard to measure, but the reflection is valuable.
If we are benefactors of God’s love…which we are. He has shown us that love so we might put that love into practice by loving others…not just 37% of the time, but 100% of the time.
Why?
1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Loving others is a primary purpose God gave us his love. Yes, he wants us to enjoy the sacrificial, unconditional, forgiving love he has for us. But…he ALSO wants us to take the love he has shown us and show it to others.
For what purpose?
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
God becomes visible. When we reflect the love of God to others, it is a visible representation of the love that God has shown to us. We can’t see God…but can realize his presence in us and others see his presence through us when we love others.
God’s love becomes complete in us. When we love others, we answer the question, “Why do we need God’s love?” Yes, we need it for our forgiveness, life and salvation, but we also need it so we can love others. When we love others (even ones who have wronged us, hurt us, or stand opposed to us), the completeness of God’s love grows inside of us. We experience the impact of sacrificial, unconditional love as it is extended through us to others. We see the power of God’s love as it restores a broken relationship. We marvel at the significance of God’s love as enemies become friends or hurts are healed.
God doesn’t want his love to be like unused facts once learned in high school. He desires his love to be learned, taken to heart, and shown every chance we get…100% of the time!
John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Apply: How have you more fully experienced, known or appreciated the love God has shown to you as you have shown that love to others?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me 100% of your love. Help me to love others 100% of the time. AMEN.
[1] https://www.studyfinds.org/survey-americans-use-37-percent-knowledge-learned-high-school/
Love…How do I do it?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 21: LOVE”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
What is the loving thing to do?
It’s a great question.
It’s a difficult question to always answer.
it’s also a default question.
It’s a question to which I may not always like the answer.
But yet it is the compelling question for the Christian to ask.
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
A follower of Jesus will always be asking the question, “What is the loving thing to do?” Because the loving thing to do is always a reflection of God’s love.
So how do we know what the loving thing to do is?
The loving thing to do may be inconvenient. Love is sacrificial.
John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Love is rarely convenient and usually means giving up some personal preference for the benefit and blessing of another. How much one gives up varies, but some level of sacrifice is often called for. So, what is the loving thing to do? Perhaps it is the activity that requires me to give up more than I naturally would like to do.
The loving thing doesn’t come with strings attached. Love is unconditional.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Jesus realized that his act of love would not be recognized or received by many, yet he still offered himself for us. He didn’t ask for payment in return for his sacrifice. His love was unconditional. Perhaps what is loving is that which I can do without attaching strings. If I find myself desiring repayment of some kind, it might have been a nice thing to do, but probably not loving because it came with conditions.
The loving thing doesn’t call for apathy. Love is active.
Here’s what it looks like:
1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
Perhaps of any “list” in the Bible about “How to love?” or “What love looks like?” this is probably the best. If I ask “What is the loving thing to do?” and that response is rude, self-seeking or anger…probably not the loving response. If the response is forgiving, truthful, kind or patient…probably the loving thing to do!
Much more could be said. Not every situation is easy, but may God’s Spirit lead all of us to a deeper more profound understanding of God’s love for us so that we might be better filled to fully love others around us.
Apply: What aspect of loving in 1 Corinthians 13 is the hardest for you to put into practice?
Prayer: Lord, as you have loved me, help me to love others. AMEN.
Love…Where does it come from?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 21: LOVE”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
LOVE…Where does it come from?
Who invented love?
I’m not referring to the term, but the concept, the expression, the reality that we call “love.”
We don’t take courses to discover love, we somehow inherently sense and know what love is. We certainly can sense and express what hate is and we speak against it and seek to get rid of it. Why? Why do we value love over hate? Why is it inherent in a society to seek and desire love as an individual or as a culture?
Philosophers opine about it. Scientists study it. Psychologists reflect on it. Individuals seek it.
So for such a concept, wouldn’t it be great if we knew where it came from so we might better understand it, receive it, and put it into practice?
I’m glad you asked. What always amazes me is what secular society can observe and study and dissect and understand, but yet fail to put the last and most important piece in the puzzle…in this case, “Where does love come from?”
Here’s the answer:
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
There could be no clearer answer to the question: “Love comes from God.”
This truth unlocks a ton of truth. No longer do I seek to understand love from merely human understanding or expression, but when I understand the origin of love, I can ask or seek to understand love from the one who created it, gave it, and originated it.
So what truly is love?
…10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
At the heart of love is God’s love for us. Reflect on these three ways:
- He sent Jesus
- John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
2. He sacrificed for our sins.
- Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
3. He claimed me as his own.
- 1 John 3:1-2 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Only with the impact of God’s love rolling in our hearts are we poised to love others…more on that tomorrow.
Apply: Which aspect of God’s love for you impacts you the most?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me even when I was unlovable. Thank you for sacrificing all for me so I could have all with you. Thank you for calling me your child and welcoming me into your family of grace. This is true love! AMEN