Joy To The World

I believe we can tell if members of the Lord’s church are happy or not. How? One thing is a fact, they are happy or they are not. It will be evident that the members of the church are happy and joyful Christians and always ready to assist others with whom they come in contact for the growth of the church and glory of God. These people are people who are friendly, eager, and have a disposition that all others wish to copy. There is a noted difference between the church member who is giving happily of their time, efforts, encouraging words, support of good and love, than that of the ones who are found to be unhappy. The unhappy members will be noted as selfish, stingy, grumbling, sullen, and most of the time fault-finding. They are in great need of finding their joy! “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.” (Psa.51:12).

We find Jesus speaking of “my joy” in John 15:11 and other places in the Scriptures. He pointed out that the Christian’s joy is different from anything the world has to offer. For it will create a shallow and false joy or happiness which fails to last under pressure. Those who have not the joy found in Christ and His way, will present a pattern which often blows hot and then cold. They are on again, then off again. Their happiness depends only on the externals, which may be that of wealth, health, popularity, or some form of power. We will not deny that we face oppositions; so did Christ. He was persecuted and insulted. However, He continued to speak of “my joy”.

I wish, and strive to present joy to the world. I find that the world is in great need of this Christ - like joy. True, the storms of life often occur, but my joy will last through all the storms, because I have placed my life upon the rock and not the sand. The promise from the Lord that when these things come, your life will stay together. I joy, and present that joy to the world because God is faithful! “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor.10:13). I joy, and place that joy before the world to see and be amazed of its lasting value. Paul was not just looking for something to say to fill up a space when he wrote “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Phil.4:4). Let there be given Joy To The World!

. . . . Fred House