Think of one of the happiest moments of your life. What happened? Was it a childhood moment? Did it occur during adulthood? What brought so much joy? Was it an experience like visiting a special place? Was it a reunion with a loved one who had been absent? Was it a gift you received that filled you up? Was it an accomplishment, a big win on the field, or maybe it was a financial win. Okay… do you have that moment locked into your mind? Next question. Did it last? If so… for how long? Stay with me here… I’m not trying to turn gladness into sadness. Wouldn’t it be incredible to experience happiness and joy on a regular basis?One thing we know for sure, material things, winning a game, and making money can be fun but that fun doesn’t really produce real joy that carries us throughout life. We’ve all met people who “have it all” but still aren’t happy. There’s a reason for that.
When I was a church youth pastor I took teens on mission trips. On one of my first trips into Mexico we were traveling to a small village to do children’s ministry and passed by a park. We decided to stop and play with kids in the park for a few minutes. The kids were full of laughter and joy! They were running up and down the playground playing soccer with an old ragged ball and the field was mostly dirt and rocks. There were some kids flying kites. I went over to hang out with the kids with kites. Those kites were flying high but looked really unusual. One of them reeled in his kite and I got a closer look. The kite was made of sticks he had broken off trees at the park and a Walmart bag. I couldn’t believe how high these things were flying. These kids were having just as much fun as any kid who’s ever flown a kite. They didn’t need expensive stuff to have fun and find joy at the park on a summer day.
Jesus put it this way, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11
We know for sure that Jesus wants us to experience fullness of joy. He can actually bring that joy into our life. I realize that my “personal happiness” is not my key focus in life and I’m not about to start living out my days thinking “I deserve to be happy at all costs.” That kind of thinking can lead to a pretty self-centered life. But there is joy, an inner peace that Jesus can provide and I can have that joy in the midst of any circumstance life throws my way.
There are three truths from John 15 the lead to a life full of joy.
1. Active Dependence
Have you figured out yet that you can’t fix everything that goes wrong in your life? The more I learn that He is my strength, my shield and my provider, the more joy I experience. Face each day with the zeal and work ethic to give your best and in doing so you will glorify Him. Then rest in the knowledge that He will take our frail efforts and do more with it than we could ever do. Learn to depend on Him and abide in Him as the source of strength. He promises four benefits of abiding in Him.
1. We Are Fruitful – (Verses 4,5)
2. We Are Useful – (Verse 6)
3. Our Prayers Are Answered – (Verse 7)
4. We Glorify God – (Verse 8)
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
2. Loving Obedience
When we begin to understand the love of God we will respond with loving obedience. I’ve noticed there are three motives for obeying God. They are DREAD, DUTY and DESIRE. We can choose to obey Him because we DREAD what might happen if we don’t. We can obey God out of DUTY because, after all, He’s done so much for us it is our duty to obey Him. We can obey God out of DESIRE from an outflow of overwhelming love for Him based on our understanding of His love for us. Either of these motives work… but obeying Him from an overflowing heart of love and gratitude is certainly the key to real joy.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
3. Fullness of Joy
Jesus said we can be full of joy. The word “full” means to cram full as a net full of fish with room for no more! And He said our net would be full of “joy” which is a spirit of delight and peace with Him.
So remember that “happiest moment of your life” you thought about a few minutes ago? It didn’t last forever did it? But Jesus has something to offer you right now that really will last. He can restore the joy into your heart and cram you full of it. Don’t be afraid to take a few minutes today to talk to Him about it and find what He calls “Fullness of Joy.”
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:11
