Joy in the Lord
by Harold Vaughan
Billy Sunday said, "If you have lost the cup of joy in your religion, there's a leak in your Christianity someplace." Joy should be a distinguishing feature of Christians.
Mary commented, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour" (Luke 1:46b-47, emphasis added). Her spirit rejoiced in God. God Himself is the source of our joy. "Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee" (Ps. 5:11b, emphasis added). These verses say nothing about being joyful in circumstances, prosperity, or great benefits. The greatest joy is found in God Himself. To be precise, the joy of the Lord is found in the Lord. "My soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation" (Isa. 61:10b, emphasis added). We can find many Scriptures that plainly state that God is the spring of our joy. Nehemiah said, "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Neh. 8:10b).
George Mueller said the first order of business every day wasn't breakfast, prayer, or even Bible reading. It was finding his joy in the Lord. We've all heard how he prayed in millions of dollars to support his orphanages. The Lord provided miraculously time and time again for his needs. However, Mr. Mueller's first concern was liberating his soul so it was overflowing with joy.
Do you remember where Peter was at Jesus' crucifixion? He was warming himself at the enemy's fire. He boldy denied he knew Christ as Jesus was about to die on the tree. But after Pentecost, we never find Peter warming himself at someone else's fire. Once the Spirit of God filled him, he had a fire within himself!
God wants us to experience His joy. In his epistle, Peter wrote, "Whom having not seen, ye love . . . though now ye see him not . . . ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Pet. 1:8).
Song Time: Think of a chorus or song that talks about the joy of the Lord. Sing the song with all your heart.
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