Great Joy

 We celebrate on important occasions. When good things happen to us, it makes us happy. However, there is a big difference between rejoicing because we are happy and rejoicing because we have great joy in our hearts. Only God can give us joy, and that joy is so much better than any kind of temporary happiness. The people of Israel experienced this great joy, when they obeyed God and rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 12:43) They offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. Even the women and children had joy, though they did not physically rebuild the walls. They were part of God's faithful people, and God gave them this joy, too. That day the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar. God has this type of joy for us today, too.

Joy is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22) Believers, who are faithful to follow the Lord's will, see the fruit of their obedience, and God fills them with His joy. It is great joy, because the world and circumstances can't take it away. Joy comes from knowing all is well between us and God. Great joy comes when we are used by God to do His will. It is one of God's rewards to His children. Once we have joy, we want to live in the center of God's will, so we can have this joy grow and grow in our life. Read what God inspired John to write for us about bearing fruit and being full of joy in John 15. That is God's desire for each of us, and when we receive it, our worship celebrations are more of a testimony to those who don't know the Lord, since they can hear us rejoicing from afar. Our joy is obvious to everyone we meet.

#NHBaptistdotorg

Tomorrow, I intend to read Nehemiah 13 and Esther 1-2.