Last week we looked at our joy in Him, today we are looking at His joy in us. God wants His people to be joyful; 1 John 1:3-4 indicates that there is a joy associated with fellowshipping with each other which has its roots in fellowship “with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ…” Jesus desire is for His joy to be manifest in us for He said in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” How much joy is this? In Hebrews 1:9 the Father speaking to Him says “…Your God has anointed You with the oil of gladness (a synonym of joy) more than Your companions.” That indicates to me that He was the most joyful man on earth! But did not Isaiah 53:3 prophesy that He was “A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”? Yes, as our perfect High Priest He had to experience our sorrows, our grief, everything that sin had laid upon us, but these were not His demeanor or character. He bore all this for us so we could experience His life and Joy within us! His mother Mary being found pregnant outside of marriage was facing difficult days; in her society this condition was a disgrace and she could be scoffed at, ridiculed, rejected, maybe even stoned for harlotry according to the law, yet in Luke 1:47 we hear her song ringing out, “…my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” How could she not have rejoiced when the Son of God was within her? And that joy from within is now flowing out in her rejoicing! So likewise when we receive Him into our heart by faith, when He lives within us, His “inexpressible” (1 Peter 1:8) joy should be produced on our branch as the fruit of the Holy Spirit for others to see and partake of!
Joy inexpressible
By Rose Hill
Joy inexpressible how can it be?
It’s because of the presence of God with me.
The Bible says I should count it all joy,
When trials and temptations come to annoy.
For such things will always do their part,
To give me patience in my heart.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.