"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
When did you last get asked why you are so cheerful?
When did someone last ask why you face difficulties with joy?
Do you smile much?
I've often found it helpful to think of the fruit of the spirit in terms of their opposites. For example, the opposite of love is obviously hatred. Joy is far less easy to polarise. It would be easy to describe anti-joy as unhappiness, or sadness, but somehow this feels weak, perhaps? Surely joy is more serious than happiness, more spiritual?
I'm constantly troubled my desire to systemise all the lists in the Bible, but I wonder if there is a progressiveness to Paul's list of fruit? After all, he clearly states in 1 Corinthians that love is the greatest, which implies that all other fruit is an outworking of love. This makes more sense when we reflect on Paul's injunctions that without love our acts are nothing. It is entirely possible to be kind and patient and self-controlled without recourse to love, and (as explored yesterday) this love is rooted in our response to God's mercy.
So joy is a response to the love God shows and gives. In making sense of this I think there are a number of prompts for our joy:
Firstly, we become joyful when we learn move of God's nature and his design for our life. We encounter God as our redeemer and saviour. He saves us, purifies and cleanses us from sin, and provides the energy to live a life of devotion. He doesn't remove us from the trials of life, but asks that we endure suffering as a constant reminder of what God passed through to achieve our redemption. The Psalmist speaks of God's presence as place that fills people with joy (Psalm 16:11), a place that the Psalmist longs for (Psalm 27:4). The Bible also speaks of our God as the one "who will not yield (his) glory to another" (Isaiah 48:11). We read in the Bible of our awesome God, who is entirely worthy of our worship, and this in turn helps us see that we are made to worship Him.
Secondly, we see how God sought to bring us back into his design. God displayed his love for us on the cross, the Spirit seeks to enable us to offer a response that befits such sacrifice. Furthermore, the cross did away with the necessity for the law, which was master at squeezing out joy. Our abundant lives are marked by freedom: freedom from sin, from the law...indeed, the Easter motif in the church is about our redemption from slavery. As Moses, we should be filled with joy, not only that God is worthy, or we are made to worship, but that God chose to intervene so decisively.
Thirdly, we can be assured of his work in our life by suffering, which is a cue for praise. Much of the New Testament is an encouragement to those who are suffering (Heb 10:34; 1 Peter 1:6,8; Romans 5:3; James 1:2). Jesus himself indicates that persecution is a mark of walking with Him (Matthew 5:11f.), but that in response we should "rejoice and be glad". This is no mere flippant cheeriness, nor a pollyanna complex which says things are fine when they are not. It would be immoral for a rape victim to smile through the pain stating that 'it's all fine, no really, I'm happy!' The joy that accompanies suffering and persecution is related entirely to our knowledge of the benefits of the cross, the example of Jesus himself. [On a personal level, I cannot quite explain the joy I now feel as I look at my son, who came after my wife and I lost a child, Thea, at 22 weeks or a pregnancy. The pain and sadness that accompanied the loss of Thea is somehow purified in the joy of Elijah's arrival. It doesn't say that Thea's death was a happy event, just that the inexpressible joy Peter speaks of often comes through the pain.]
Finally, joy comes as we are assured of His return. Paul speaks of joy that comes from "the hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:2). The Bible speaks openly of Jesus' return - does this fact cause us to worry or rejoice?
So joy comes as we see who God is, what we're made for, what He has done for us, the life He calls us to lead, and the promise of eternity in His presence.
Therefore, when we think of the fruit of joy, what might we expect to see in our life?
- Joy in worship
- Joy in demeanour
Joy in worship
The Spirit's fruit of joy is seen in corporate gatherings. Worship is often maligned as time-wasting. It is the support act to the real job of Evangelism. This position totally minunderstands the enormous benefits worship can bring to helping us feel (yes, feel) more joyful! Man's first, chief and highest end is to glorify God. When we act in ways to fulfil this purpose we begin to experience an intensity of joy, hitherto unknown.
Pentecost represents the moment, from which “the worship of the new age had been ushered in. The church, the assembly for worship, was praising God...Reverent corporate worship, then, is not optional for the church of God…Rather it brings to expression the very being of the church. It manifests on earth the reality of the heavenly assembly” (Clowney)
Paul asks the Colossians to sing. So should we. I am deeply suspicious of those who do not 'get' worship. I realise it is not the be all and end all, but it can effect such profound change. I blog elsewhere on worship, but a few pointers here.
Are you consciously adoring God in your heart, when you come to church?
Are you engaging with praising with your voice (speaking or singing)?
Joy in demeanour
Knowing that we are to live forever, do we give the impression that we'd sooner die and rot? I think too many Christians are appalling advertisements for God, his character and his work, by the grumpiness with which we operate. Some translations of the word joy in Galatians 5 include: gladness, happy, or even "exuberance about life".
So the challenge this day, concerning this fruit has to be about our outlook:
- Are we failing to be who we're made to be?
- Are we failing to obey God's word?
- Am I unwittingly marginalising the importance of joy becuase that's not my personality type?
Some verses to end:
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glopry and honour and power.
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being"
(Revelation 4:11)
REFERENCE
Clowney, E. (n/a) 'The Biblical Theology of the Church'. In: Carson, D.A. The Church in the Bible and the World. pp.17-19
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