Joy

Like love, joy is another Fruit of the Spirit. And also like love, TRUE joy is impossible to have outside of a relationship with God. Showing "fruit" is showing the world evidence we are living in a relationship with Jesus as a Christian. So it's very important we produce these characteristics.

What is Joy?? Tough question. Hard to define. My wife described it as "unconditional happiness." The Bible describes it in 1 Peter 1:8 as an "inexpressible" feeling. I think joy can stem a whole lot from SECURITY. Security in our salvation. Security in God's promises. Having security in those things produces joy.

First, we need to have joy in our salvation! Acts 16:34 tells us of a man who was filled with joy because he & his whole family had come to know the Lord. He was excited to have been saved! To have been set free from the bondage of sin & celebrate in the promise of eternal life!

This too should be evident in our lives. We should have a great joy because of what Jesus did for us. For the price He paid on the cross. For the free gift of eternal life He offers. To have been set free from sin. And the world needs to know it. The world needs to see it. It should be evident. Joy should be a "fruit" being produced.

We ultimately have joy because of the security found in God alone. Security He is with us always. Security He is at work in our lives. Security we have eternal life in His salvation. Security in His PROMISES.

Joy is only found in Jesus. Jesus gives us His promises in John 15:11 so His "joy may be in you & that your joy may be complete."

Be complete today. Make it evident. JOY.

JV