But The Fruit Of The Spirit Is... Joy

I have felt it placed upon my heart to do a little mini devotional series that goes through the fruits of the Spirit. Since the entirety of all of the fruits can be summed up in the first one listed, which is love, I want to save that one for last. Today I want to start by looking at what it means to have joy.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

What is joy? For some, it is that feeling of elation that you feel Christmas morning as you gather around a tree full of gifts. For some, it is found in the new life of a child. To others, joy is simply being able to pay the bills for another month. Joy may be found in a sunny day or spending time with the ones you love. These are all so temporary though! What happens when the gifts have all been opened, the baby grows to be a toddler, or better yet, a teenager, or the sun turns to rain? As a characteristic that we are to exhibit on a regular basis, no matter what our circumstances, what is joy? 

According to the dictionary, joy is an emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation. One of the synonyms listed for joy is literally warm fuzzies. Just the thought of that brings a smile to my face. Who doesn't like the warm fuzzies?! (For anyone who may not know what the warm fuzzies are, they are a real thing! They are described as feelings of happiness, contentment, or sentimentality.)

In the original Greek text that this verse was written in, the word joy simply means gladness. This joy is the same joy that is referenced when the wise men saw the star in the sky announcing the birth of our great King, Jesus. This is also the same joy that all of heaven feels at the salvation of a single soul. 

Based on the definitions of joy, it appears that joy is a result of something good happening to us, but joy is listed as a "fruit" that we are to always exhibit, not only when we are feeling good, but also in times of difficulty or trial. In James 1:2 we are told to "Count it all joy when you fall into divers (various sorts of) temptations..." How can one do that? Temptations or hardship or struggles are not what I think of as a source of joy. 

There is one way to have and maintain this Biblical joy at all times. That is to know who you are and who you belong to. As a Christian, we are children of the Most High God, children of the King of Kings. Our joy is only found and maintained when we are in fellowship with our Abba, Father. Our biggest blessing that no one and nothing can steal away from us is the gift of our salvation and through that salvation, full time access to the Father. If we are to bear much fruit, the fruits of the Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord, then we need to know the Spirit we seek to mimic. How do we get to know that Spirit? In the same way we get to know anyone else. By spending time with Him. By conversing with Him. By trusting Him. By reading His word. By being in constant fellowship with Him. The fact that we have this salvation and this access to God is enough to have joy  for the rest of our days!

1 John 1:1-4 "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you, that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." 

Our joy is also maintained by cultivating a heart of constant worship. You cannot help but have the joy of the Lord when your heart is focused on Him more than any other temporary circumstance that may be occurring in your life.

Luke 24:52-53 "And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen."

If you feel like you are lacking joy today, and you know who you belong to, start worshiping! Start praising God! Although at times it may not seem like it, the current struggles of this world that may be dragging you down and robbing you of your joy are temporary. Don't allow the enemy to use temporary afflictions to rob you of eternal joys. Thank God that He is using those "afflictions" to build you up into a stronger, more joyful person than you have ever been before. Don't miss God in the bad times. Look to Him! 

I have heard joy defined with the acronym "Jesus, Others, You." When you take the focus off of yourself and place it first on Jesus, and second on others, you have no time leftover to dwell on your circumstances. There is joy in serving others. 

Galatians 5:13 "... but by love, serve one another." 

Be a source of joy to others around you. Your joy is contagious. When you know who's you are and where you are headed for all of eternity, you will send out the fruit of joy in your life. It will be second nature. Shine that light of joy! It's contagious for yourself too. The more joyful you are, the more joyful you want to continue to be!