JOY

"These things I have spoken to you,
that My joy may remain in you
and that your joy may be full."
John 15:11

The second attribute in the “Fruit of the Spirit” is joy (Greek: chara).  Joy is deeper than happiness, it is a supernatural gladness that is completely independent of what happens to us in the course of a day.  It is rooted in and comes from God.

Jesus revealed the requirements for experiencing spiritual joy in John 15 – a joy that is not dependent on well-being, success, good fortune or circumstances as the world defines it, but on fellowship with its endless source – Jesus Christ.

In John 15: 4-5 we see that it is necessary to maintain a close relationship with Him because without Him we can do nothing. In verse 8 we are to grow more fruitful in every good word and work in order to glorify our Father. Finally, in verse 10 we are to obey our Father’s commands, following Christ’s example. All three in order to mature and complete our joy – the happy state that results from knowing and serving God.

Additional verses for this week:

Nehemiah 8:9-10

John 16:20-24

Acts 2:25-28

Romans 14:17-19

James 1:2-4

I Peter 1:3-9

                                                                                            Joyce