Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The Joy of Life

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 
that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

A man said to his wife, "I've noticed that most of the time your life seems to be full of joy. I don't know what it is that you have, but I want it." She said to him, "You may find this hard to believe, but it's my relationship with God. He fills my life with joy. And, yes, you can have it." Not long after that, her husband committed his life to God through faith in Christ. For many people, it may sound like fantasy, too good to be true. Only those who experience God's joy through the Holy Spirit can know for sure.

There is an old hymn of the church entitled, "Since Jesus Came Into My Heart." One line of that hymn says, "Since Jesus came into my heart, floods of joy over my soul, like the sea billows roll, since Jesus came into my heart." When we receive Christ by faith, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives (Ephesians 1:13). A fruit of the Holy Spirit working within us is joy (Galatians 5:22).

Is your life filled with joy? It's God's will to fill every believer with His joy. Unbelief says, "Such talk as that is utter foolishness, impossible." Faith says, "I believe God's word, and I will not be denied until I am filled with His joy." Why live an empty life, when your life can be filled with joy?

Father, I believe the Bible. I believe You want my life filled with joy. Cleanse me of all my sins and restore the joy of my salvation through Jesus Christ. Amen.