As In a Mirror

This week’s Word for Wednesday focuses on the Scriptural definition of “joy.”

Often we think to ourselves, “What is real joy, anyway?” Whatever it is, we sure wish we had it! According to Galatians 5:22, joy is a fruit of the Spirit, along with love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits are essential to the believer; they are the evidence of Christ within him. So the question arises, just what is this joy, and how do we know that we are possessing it?

The literal Greek word for joy used often in the New Testament means a “calm delight; exceeding gladness.” It is interesting to note how Jesus, in the parable of the sower, refers to those who were compared to the stony ground: “… when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.” (Luke 8:13). So, we see that our faith must be founded on something stronger than the initial joy we receive. We must receive “the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15).

Therefore, though joy is not the root or basis of our faith, it is a fruit, an after-effect. Because whoever strives to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12), the Scriptures repeatedly exhort us to have joy in tribulation. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “the joy of the Lord is your strength,” that is, “the joy of the Lord is your defense.” We are constantly instructed to rejoice, to offer up thanksgiving to God. For us who know the greatness of God and the wonder of His love, this is the natural response. The joy that results no one can ever take away from us, no matter the circumstance (John 16:22, Romans 8:38-39). We cling to this joy in hope of the glory to come; we also receive instruction and correction with joy (Romans 5:2, Hebrews 12:3-10). Psalm 16:11 says, “In Your presence is fullness of joy,” and John 15:4 tells us to abide, that is to stay, in Christ. We can thus conclude that we are to always be in His presence, in His Spirit. We also see that our joy, the flower of our faith, is to be a constant thing, not transient like happiness or cheer.

Joy– it is what drives us, motivates us, satisfies us. Joy is the ambition that prevails over despair, the hope that endures hardship, and the result of fulfilled anticipation.

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