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I was praying one morning and the word ‘joy’ came to mind. I immediately started thinking about what made me joyful. Sadly, much of my joyful moments were connected to worldly things.
Galatians 5:22-23 states: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law (NIV).
In Galatians 5:22-23, the Apostle Paul was listing the hallmarks of a believer who lives – is led by – the Holy Spirit. “Hallmarks” are marks or stamps that show that something is genuine. That it meets a certain standard. For believers, as we are led by the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit forms – marks or stamps – into us the qualities of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the standard by which believers must live by. This means then that the ‘joy’ listed in Galatians 5:22 is far unlike worldly joy.
Worldly joy depends on things of this world. For example, it is the joy experienced when we receive a salary increase. Or when we move into the bigger apartment. Or buy a new home. Unfortunately, worldly joy is temporary. It fades when good times turn into bad times.
The ‘joy’ that is a fruit of the Spirit is different. It remains in good times. And it remains in bad times. When life’s pressures are crushing on every side, the joy that is the fruit of the Spirit keeps us calmly anchored in the hope that is Jesus Christ.
John 15:11 states: I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (NIV).
The ‘joy’ in John 15:11 does not depend on anything external. Rather, it arises out of a connection to – from abiding in – Jesus Christ. As John 15:5 states: I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
God loves us and wants us to have the joy that only He can give. In spite of this, have you been settling for worldly joy? If yes, ask God to give you the grace you need to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Ask God for the grace you need to endure so that the joy that is the fruit of the Spirit can be formed and established within you.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domain.
