"In Your presence is fullness of joy."
Psalm 16:11
It was late afternoon. Three children were playing in the house. They heard a car in the driveway. One child exclaimed loudly with joy, "Daddy's home. Daddy's home." They all jumped up and ran out the door to greet him. He hugged each one of them. They didn't want to turn him loose. You see, he had been away for days on a business trip. Excitement filled the house just because daddy was home. After he hugged his wife, the children gathered around him. Sure, he always brought them gifts. They received from his hand and hugged him again. The house came alive just because daddy was there. His presence changed everything. So it is with our heavenly Father. His presence in our lives always gives us joy, even fullness of joy.
Theologians teach us that God is omnipresent. That is to say, He is everywhere at the same time. The psalmist talks about the fullness of joy in God's presence as a special way He reveals Himself to His children. That revealed joy comes through the worship of God.
One word translated worship in the English Bible comes from a Greek word meaning "to kiss toward." When I think of that expression, I imagine children gathered around daddy, as they express their love for him and receive his love. So it is when we worship our heavenly Father. We are loving Him and receiving His love.
God wants us to enjoy Him, and let us enjoy Him forever. Joy comes not because we seek it, but because we seek Him. He loves us and He wants us to experience the joy of His love divine. The Spirit of God's love is poured into our hearts as we worship Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:24; Romans 5:5). Don't focus on the joy. Focus on the Father. The joy always flows from His presence.
Father, we seek Your presence through Jesus Christ.
