Joy Increased (5): A Final Few Thoughts
Here are a few final thoughts on how to increase your joy:
1. See and celebrate the evidences of God's grace in yourself and in others (Acts 11:21-24). Barnabas rejoiced because he saw grace in others. Let's sharpen our vision to see the same, and then open our mouths to celebrate it. Never hold back your praise of God and gratitude to others for the evidence of God's saving and sanctifying grace in life. This will simply make you burst with joy.
2. Contemplate the promises of God. Be a promise-believer, and be filled with joy.
3. Anticipate the life to come. There is joy unspeakable in being a Christian whose eye is on the sky, and what lies beyond.
4. Gaze at God. When God wanted to comfort His people, relieve their sadness, and restore their joy in Isaiah 40:1, 2, He called them to "behold their God" (Isaiah 40:9). Nothing so fills the soul with joy as a steady gazing at God.
This by the way is the joy of heaven over which angels sing and saints dance. In Bible theology we speak of the beatific vision (the happy, joyful, blessed vision) of God in heaven. Seeing God in heaven will be what makes heaven heaven. Seeing God by faith here and now makes heaven touch down on planet earth, and gives us joy today.
I close this series with words from Jonathan Edwards:
May grace, peace, and joy abound in us all, in the knowledge of God. Amen.
1. See and celebrate the evidences of God's grace in yourself and in others (Acts 11:21-24). Barnabas rejoiced because he saw grace in others. Let's sharpen our vision to see the same, and then open our mouths to celebrate it. Never hold back your praise of God and gratitude to others for the evidence of God's saving and sanctifying grace in life. This will simply make you burst with joy.
2. Contemplate the promises of God. Be a promise-believer, and be filled with joy.
3. Anticipate the life to come. There is joy unspeakable in being a Christian whose eye is on the sky, and what lies beyond.
4. Gaze at God. When God wanted to comfort His people, relieve their sadness, and restore their joy in Isaiah 40:1, 2, He called them to "behold their God" (Isaiah 40:9). Nothing so fills the soul with joy as a steady gazing at God.
This by the way is the joy of heaven over which angels sing and saints dance. In Bible theology we speak of the beatific vision (the happy, joyful, blessed vision) of God in heaven. Seeing God in heaven will be what makes heaven heaven. Seeing God by faith here and now makes heaven touch down on planet earth, and gives us joy today.
I close this series with words from Jonathan Edwards:
The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean (Works, II, 244).
May grace, peace, and joy abound in us all, in the knowledge of God. Amen.
Labels: Affections, christian life, Joy, Religious Affections
posted by Tim Shorey at
8:00 AM
2 Comments:
I so desire to be a joyful man. I want to turn more and more to the Source that Johnthan Edwards speaks of. How wonderful that we can access the Source, God Himself, this side of heaven (albeit, through a glass, darkly), but such is our situation here, and our joy cannot be as full here as it will one day be in His presence.
This series on joy has shown me my need to gravitate increasingly to the quiet place, there to seek the God of all Joy, Peace, Hope, and Glory. I don't think I will make it in this veil of tears, in this "groaning" world without consistent glimpses of Him who is the Source of all joy.
Thanks for this reminder Tim. For me, this morning, as I feel the weight and pressure of life, as I feel my melancholy kicking in... this post is a sorely needed reminder-- to flee into His presence-- there is NO joy unless it is His joy imparted to us.
Peter
My good brother--let us keep each other in the way of joy. This, like all areas of growth cannot be reached apart from the close and strong fellowship of the saints.
Let us fight for joy as one.
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