Day 16 - 40 Days of JOY
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of JOY
Day 16 | JOY IN JESUS
40 Days of JOY
Day 16 | JOY IN JESUS
JOY IN JESUS
1 Peter 1:3, 8
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope … Though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
Are you born again? Then, are you experiencing that JOY which Peter is talking about here in 1 Peter?
I often find that people, even regular church-goers, aren’t experiencing that type of joy.
It reminds me of the old story where a lady saved and saved to go on a cruise and could afford only the very least expensive inside stateroom. She was glad to be onboard but stayed in her room or the outside deck almost exclusively. She played many solitaire games and dined on the cheese and crackers she brought with her to keep the cost as low as possible. Towards the end of the trip, she ventured out and met one of the ship’s stewards, who asked how she enjoyed the buffets and the entertainment. She told him she was eating in her stateroom because she didn’t have the fee for any extras. Of course, you know where this is going… how she must have felt to find out that “the meals and entertainment are all included.”
Sometimes, Christians don’t realize that JOY is included in the package of becoming a Child of God.
Enjoying the “joy of the Lord” is not an upgrade. Rejoicing with “joy unspeakable and full of glory” is included with being one of God’s children. Enjoy it NOW!
Prayer: LORD, forgive me for not realizing that, of course, you want your children to be joyful. YOU paid the price for my sin and want YOUR joy to be in me and my joy to be full. Help me get there, Lord. Amen.
1 Peter 1:3, 8
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope … Though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
Are you born again? Then, are you experiencing that JOY which Peter is talking about here in 1 Peter?
I often find that people, even regular church-goers, aren’t experiencing that type of joy.
It reminds me of the old story where a lady saved and saved to go on a cruise and could afford only the very least expensive inside stateroom. She was glad to be onboard but stayed in her room or the outside deck almost exclusively. She played many solitaire games and dined on the cheese and crackers she brought with her to keep the cost as low as possible. Towards the end of the trip, she ventured out and met one of the ship’s stewards, who asked how she enjoyed the buffets and the entertainment. She told him she was eating in her stateroom because she didn’t have the fee for any extras. Of course, you know where this is going… how she must have felt to find out that “the meals and entertainment are all included.”
Sometimes, Christians don’t realize that JOY is included in the package of becoming a Child of God.
Enjoying the “joy of the Lord” is not an upgrade. Rejoicing with “joy unspeakable and full of glory” is included with being one of God’s children. Enjoy it NOW!
Prayer: LORD, forgive me for not realizing that, of course, you want your children to be joyful. YOU paid the price for my sin and want YOUR joy to be in me and my joy to be full. Help me get there, Lord. Amen.