Question: What does it look like for God to be the object of our joy? Is it wrong to get joy from the things that God has blessed us with (material, positions, friends, so forth)?
(I have just got the Flanders kids singing the above title in my head - now it's in yours!)
For those reading who did not hear what I was talking about on Sunday I said two things about joy.
1. God is the object of our joy
2. God is the giver of our joy
These questions get down to the 'nitty-gritty' of God as the object of our joy. Maybe to rephrase the statement will help: Does knowing God personally bring you joy?
God does indeed give us many good things in this life and in the here and now. But even in the best of times with those things there joy is only momentary. Even in friendships or a marriage relationship - if the place where I always and only look to joy from is in them, then when their sinfulness inevitably shines through that joy is halted. So, it is not wrong to be thankful for them and yes some of them may bring joy, the Scriptures at various points warns against making any of them into idols.
Realising this then helps us to see how God is the object of our joy. I think (which means I haven't done the work to really justify this) but joy and satisfaction are linked together. Think about a time when you hung out with good friends and ate a wonderful meal - you were satisfied. You have that feeling inside that 'all is good'. You know you are well fed and you know that you have good friends this satisfaction consequently leads to joy. One follows the other so to speak.
The same is with God, if we are satisfied with where God has placed us in this life (and I guess flowing from this is a complete and real trust in his sovereignty) and with what he has given us will lead to joy. God has given us something worth rejoicing over - his Son. Let's examine Scripture to see how this is overwhelmingly true:
Luke 1:14 when the angel speaks to Zechariah about Jesus' birth
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his
birth
Luke 1:44
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb
leaped for joy
Luke 2:10
Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is
Christ the Lord
John 3:29
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom
waits for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegrooms voice. That joy
is mine, and it is now complete.
Luke 10:17, 20
The seventy two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit
to us in your name....(v20) Jesus replied, 'However, do not rejoice that the
spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'
This is a key verse in seeing that joy flows from our redeemed nature. Luke 15 shows this with 'rejoicing in heaven over repentant sinners'
Joy flows out of being 'in Christ'. Maybe this doesn't always seem the case because we often forget (me included) what a remarkable thing it is to be a Christian. To remember again what are sinful state means for us and how great and wonderful an act of God it was in sending Jesus to be the 'saviour of the world' (John 4:42)
Even as you look at the book of Acts and the early church you see that joy is found in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Acts 2:26 (quoting Psalm 16)
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live
in hope
Interestingly David's joy in the Psalm is ultimately grounded in Jesus Christ.
Paul shows us that joy is not static but a daily practice - Phil 3:1, 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!
Peter says something similar - 1 Pet 1:8
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see
him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious
joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your
souls
Over and over again we see that our joy is because of the great acts of salvation in Jesus Christ.
John Calvin says,
Joy is a quiet gladness of heart as one contemplates the goodness of God's
saving grace in Christ Jesus
So, what practical advice can I give you to discover this joy - it must be to discover Jesus Christ, not just once but again and again, every single day, always.
Next post: we will see how joy is also future looking as we answer the question - what does it mean to rejoice through thick and thin?
