Joy.
Do you have it? Have you lost it?
The Bible is full of passages that remind us of the importance of joy in the Christian life. The Psalmist reminds us to “shout for joy,” to rest in God as our “exceeding joy,” and makes supplication for God to “restore the joy of [God's] salvation.”
Paul speaks of joy as a fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22), and is “overflowing with joy” (2 Cor. 7:4). James calls us to “count it all joy” when we meet trials (James 1:2).
Indeed, joy is to be the perpetual state of all believers who are in Jesus. Yet, we are often joyless – especially those who serve the church in full-time ministry.
Leaders, we are not called to be stoic. We do a huge disservice to our people when we do not daily express the joy of our salvation. Come to Christ like a child, filled with laugher, free of care, resting in the sovereinty of our mighty savior. Celebrate with your people. Laugh, exclaim, dance, if you must. Let your joy be evident.
If you are lacking in joy, pray today, like the Psalmist, that God would restore your joy. And live like Paul, who strove to make his joy the joy of those whom God entrusted to him.
Great post Jake. Needed a “joy boost” this morning.
I love this post. John Piper has built a ministry around the notion: “He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” God’s glory thrives in the joy and celebration of his people. It might even be that God prefers the sound of a good belly laugh to musing of a Sunday choir. But Jake, you may have gone too far… “dance, if you must.” What are you, crazy. What is this dancing that you speak of? You mean to say that people can rhythmically move to music in an enjoyable and entertaining fashion? If there is one thing I think we miss out due to cultural deficit it’s dancing. The best we can do is cross our arms and bounce our knees to a mean indie beat. That’s just sad.