Great Joy
Only the Lord can give us great joy. It comes from being right with Him and seeing His will done in wonderful ways, so that we rejoice in His goodness and power, because of His blessings toward us. All of the people who returned from the exile in Babylon and who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem rejoiced with great joy, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.(Nehemiah 12:43) Let's stop to consider how to have great joy.
Since great joy only comes from the Lord, it has to start with a relationship with Him. When we hear from the Lord and we obey Him, we have a sense of joy, because we know we are doing the right thing. Then, when we see how God blesses our obedience, we have a heart filled with joy and rejoicing. The results of trusting the Lord give us great joy to think that God loves us so much.
When we show God's love to another person by sharing Christ with them, it brings joy. When we see another person come to know Christ, we have great joy. When we see God send a great blessing like a healing or a financial blessing, we have great joy. All of these things are based on what God does. The joy comes from Him. However, we have to be willing to trust Him and to obey what He says. If we desire to have joy, we must have a close relationship with God. We must abide in Him and do His will. He will provide the joy abundantly.(John 15:1-10)
Tomorrow, I intend to read Nehemiah 13 and Esther 1-2.
Since great joy only comes from the Lord, it has to start with a relationship with Him. When we hear from the Lord and we obey Him, we have a sense of joy, because we know we are doing the right thing. Then, when we see how God blesses our obedience, we have a heart filled with joy and rejoicing. The results of trusting the Lord give us great joy to think that God loves us so much.
When we show God's love to another person by sharing Christ with them, it brings joy. When we see another person come to know Christ, we have great joy. When we see God send a great blessing like a healing or a financial blessing, we have great joy. All of these things are based on what God does. The joy comes from Him. However, we have to be willing to trust Him and to obey what He says. If we desire to have joy, we must have a close relationship with God. We must abide in Him and do His will. He will provide the joy abundantly.(John 15:1-10)
Tomorrow, I intend to read Nehemiah 13 and Esther 1-2.