When people meet you today, will they meet JOY? At Wal-mart, will JOY be walking the aisles? At the DMV, will JOY be waiting in the interminably long line? In the doctor’s office, will JOY be in the waiting room? Hmmmm. Why do we fail to see “joy unspeakable and full of glory” in many born again believers when it is the promise of God?
When we see true JOY, there is no mistaking it, is there?
What is patently evident is that many Christians don’t have it. Many live in the drudgery of half-hearted obedience to the portions of the Scripture they agree with and think that somehow this will give them the abiding joy of a relationship with Christ. Ultimately, the dry dissatisfaction of living by a few random rules just drags us back into the misery of enemy territory because we experience no pleasure in Christ. We completely miss the precious purpose and life for which we were created.
But Jesus taught us EXACTLY how to have joy by growing in our relationship with Him after we are born into His family. He said:
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
”This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
John 15:5-14
Abiding in Christ gives us supernatural joy because it satisfies the greatest desires of our heart! The Bible repeatedly confirms this truth:
“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.”
1 John 3:22-23
To “abide” in Christ is to live in full surrender to Him in every area of our life. We are the pleasing child who adores the Father. Our stubborn self-sufficiency is cast into the dungeon and divine satisfaction and supernatural prosperity flow freely.
“Abiding in God” is an incomparably remarkable cycle experienced by those who receive His gift of salvation:
- As His child, we have new desires—to live in obedience to Him;
- We begin to experience the goodness of His love;
- The more we experience His love, the more we desire to lovingly obey Him; and
- Our obedience draws us even more into His goodness and…
…we cycle deeper and deeper into our relationship with Him because we can’t ever get enough! We live in a preview of Heaven. And we desire to worship! When God inspired us to write and record a worship version of “Abide With Me,” it was because we experienced the incredible joy of abiding in Him!
When we “abide” in Christ, we experience love, joy, wisdom, strength, satisfaction, and peace on a level we will NEVER experience without Him. This wonderfulness generates an obedient heart. We WANT to stay close to our Holy God! We want His Spirit to give us direction, confidence, strength, peace, love, and focus.
My friend, if you are struggling with profound weariness from bearing the burdens of the world by yourself, turn around and run back to Jesus—He does your life far better than you do!
Christ laid down His life to free us from sin and despair. Take the first step by surrendering your life to Him for salvation, and then pursue Him with every fiber of your heart! He does NOT disappoint!
Abiding in Christ will satisfy the deepest longing of your heart.
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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