Your Daily Devotional for June 4, 2007

 

June 4,  2007

 

 

A Continuing Joy

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

 

John 15:10-11

 

 

In yesterday's devotion we saw that Christ desires to fill our lives with joy, but we must first seek Him and obey His commands. Not only does Christ desire to give us joy but He wishes for that joy to continue in us.

 

John 15:11 says, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." Christ wants us to have joy in our lives continually! The happiness this world offers is temporary but God's joy continues forever!

 

Christ's joy will continue in us as we are focused on His Word. Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." We should spend time in God's Word each day and abide with Him. When we abide in Christ and focus on His Word, we will have Christ's joy in our hearts. 

 

As long as we abide in Christ and in His Word, He will give us joy. He has an endless supply of joy, and He desires to give us that joy each day! As we remain in Him and His Word, He will give us continuous joy in our lives.

 

Not only will focusing on God's Word bring us joy, but focusing on God's goodness to us will bring us joy as well. It was once said that if we were more mindful of what God has done for us, we would truly be thankful and joyful. Imagine where you would be without Christ today. If Christ had not come to die for us, we would have no hope of eternity! Not only did He provide us with a home in Heaven, but He guides us, provides for us, and comforts us throughout our lives. God is so good to us! As we focus on all God has done for us, we will have continuous joy in our lives.

 

Corrie Ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, once said, "Often I have heard people say, 'How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!' Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. 'No, Corrie,' said Betsie, 'He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: 'For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.'"

 

No matter what we go through, we can have joy as we focus on God's Word and on His goodness to us. Do you have joy today? If we are in Christ's Word each day and are meditating on it, He will give us joy throughout the day. Take time to thank God for all He has done for you. Spend time in His Word and let Him give you joy that continues as you live for Him.

 

 

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 21-22 • John 14

 

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