Joy, Joy

Interestingly enough, "Joy" is one of the things listed in the fruit of Spirit section of Galatians.   Does this mean that only Christians can know joy?  Actually, it does not.  People can have joy without having Christ.  Even Jesus acknowledged this as He said, "I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete."  (John 15:11)  It would seem from these words that a person can know joy without being someone who seeks after God, or knows Christ in a personal way.  "The words, "your joy" stand apart from any relationship with Christ.

 

What Jesus is saying is that the joy we have apart from Him is a joy that is partial, but not complete.  It is not a joy that could be characterized as full.  Now we know that joy is not synonymous with euphoria, or happiness, or the ecstasy of a heart filled with good feelings.  Joy is something not really dependent on events or circumstances.  Instead, it speaks of an attitude carried into the fray we know as life.  The Apostle Paul points us to it as he writes about being content in any kind of circumstance.  Joy makes such a life possible.  It is an attitude made possible not because of good circumstances, but because of a trusting relationship with a good God. 

 

The spring which feeds joy is thanksgiving.  An ungrateful person is never a joyful person, only the person who lives with an attitude of gratitude.  Ungrateful people are stingy people, they are small narrow minded people, they are ego driven.   Such people can never be joyful because joy springs from a thankful heart.  Be intentional about being thankful and it will become obvious that something is changing in the inner being.  Be intentional about living in a serious relationship with Jesus and discover how He can cause the trickling stream of thanksgiving to become a mighty stream of joy.