The Joy of Faith - Isaiah 23-25 and Philippians 1
There is a real joy that comes through living a life of faith in the Lord. This joy is a result of trusting the Lord and being secure in Him, so it is not dependent on circumstances. The opposite is also true. When someone is living without faith in God, there is a lack of joy. Isaiah in his description of God's judgment on the earth said that "All joy is darkened." The world of a person or a country without the Lord is a very dark and cold one without joy. It is God's will for us to experience His joy, but if we rebel against Him our joy is departs as a sign we need to turn back to Him.
Paul is writing to the saints in Philippi because he loves them very much. He is concerned about their joy. Paul is in prison, and he knows he could die soon. However, he believes that God will leave him in the world a while, so he can help the saints experience progress and the joy of faith. He knew that joy. He could rejoice in prison. He could say sincerely "to live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul had that joy, and he wanted to pass it on to others.
How about you? Is your life filled with the joy of faith? Are you dependent on circumstances for your happiness, or do you have a deep abiding joy no matter what happens to you? Consider your faith and how it is tied to joy. Yes, joy is a fruit of the Spirit, but it begins with a secure relationship with Jesus and an abiding in Him and in the Spirit each day. I pray that each of us will be filled with God's joy, so it overflows to those around us all the time.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 26-27 and Philippians 2.
Paul is writing to the saints in Philippi because he loves them very much. He is concerned about their joy. Paul is in prison, and he knows he could die soon. However, he believes that God will leave him in the world a while, so he can help the saints experience progress and the joy of faith. He knew that joy. He could rejoice in prison. He could say sincerely "to live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul had that joy, and he wanted to pass it on to others.
How about you? Is your life filled with the joy of faith? Are you dependent on circumstances for your happiness, or do you have a deep abiding joy no matter what happens to you? Consider your faith and how it is tied to joy. Yes, joy is a fruit of the Spirit, but it begins with a secure relationship with Jesus and an abiding in Him and in the Spirit each day. I pray that each of us will be filled with God's joy, so it overflows to those around us all the time.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 26-27 and Philippians 2.