Hello and welcome to this week’s Van Life devotion. One of the reasons to be a follower of Jesus is that God gives you joy. Now, this needs some explanation and clarification, but I must say, it is truly a wonderful gift by God.
The Bible teaches a lot about joy. For example, Jesus taught about the importance of remaining connected to Him and then He says, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you…” (John 15:11 NIV). The Apostle Paul wrote to bunch of new believers saying, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him…” (Romans 15:13 NIV). So, God wants you to experience joy.
What is this joy that the bible talks about? In our western way of thinking, we interpret joy as bursting with happiness. This theme park produces bursts of joy and laughter. Like the roller coaster, life has its ups and downs producing feelings of joy and despair. However, joy in the Bible is not a feeling but is something deeper. In fact, the bible says that believers ought to “Consider it pure joy… whenever they face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2 NIV). What? This doesn’t make sense. When I face trials, I feel like the world is against me.
When the bible talks about joy, it is referring to an inner contentment and satisfaction, because believers know that “God works for the good of those who love him...” (Romans 8:28 NIV). This means that when you are on life’s roller coaster, you choose joy over bitterness and misery because you have inner contentment and satisfaction that “God works for the good of those who love him...”.
Now, I must admit that this is easier said than experienced. But when you become a follower of Jesus you are recreated. God starts chipping away at you, removing your flaws one by one with the aim of perfecting you for that day that you meet Jesus face to face. This includes replacing bitterness and misery with His joy.
Why be a follower of Jesus? To have joy.
One of the great leaders of the first church is Paul. Before he became a follower of Jesus, he would get names of Christians from local religious leaders and go and drag them to prison. He hated the name of Jesus. One day as he was walking to Damascus, he had an incredible encounter with Jesus. Surrounded by blinding light Jesus, from heaven, appeared to Paul and Paul was changed. Not only was Paul changed but Jesus called him to be a preacher. So here was Paul – one day he was persecuting followers of Jesus but the next day he was preaching to people to become followers of Jesus.
Paul travelled throughout Isreal, Turkey and Greece, preaching and teaching that Jesus is the Son of God who died and rose again, and calling on people to believe in and follow Him as Lord. Everywhere he went people responded and the number of Christians grew dramatically.
However, this aroused caution and jealousy from the very religious leaders he used to work with. In some places he was beaten, arrest and even thrown in prison. I visited one of the places that he and his mate were put into gaol. On one occasion he was in prison in Rome awaiting trial writing letters that have since been included in the Bible. So here was Paul who knew that death could well be his punishment. Was he scared? Resentful? Well, not really for in one of his letters he spoke about his predicament and wrote, “so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice” (Philippians 1:18 NLT). Despite his gloomy circumstances, as a passionate follower of Jesus, Paul was experiencing an inner contentment and satisfaction, because he knew that “God works for the good of those who love him...” (Romans 8:28 NIV). He knew about this joy.
Joy is a beautiful gift from God. The bible says that it is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, meaning that when you ask Jesus to be your Lord, His gives you His Holy Spirit resulting in several supernatural virtues in your life which includes joy.
How do you ask Jesus to be your Lord? By praying in faith, a simple but heartfelt prayer. I invite you now to pray this prayer.
Father God.
I am sorry that I am a sinner.
Thank you for forgiving me when Jesus died on the cross.
Enable me to put my trust in You and
to obey Your teachings.
Grant to me the gift of joy.
In Jesus’ name
Amen
David Moyes
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