Scripture: Galatians 5:22�?STRONG>By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace�?BR>
Reflection: When the Holy Spirit works love in the believer, Paul suggests that a concomitant outcome is Joy. The foundational nature of love rests in God whose character is love. But love inevitably culminates in joy—the beloved is a joy to the lover (witness the confession of the lover in Song of Songs 2:2, "With great delight I sat in his shadow and his fruit was sweet to my taste." Psalm 30 identifies the believer's joy with God's favor: "For his anger is but
for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes in the morning." (vs 5)
The believer tastes and exults in God's love. He wants to live in God's love because of the Joy it brings. The Psalm continues, "You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy." (vs 11) One idea I captured from a sermon in Houston back in 1993 was, "Joy is not the absence of difficulty. It is the presence of God." I don't want to be critical, but I observe many Christians who seem unhappy. Is it reasonable to think that the absence of Joy may indicate an absence of relationship with God?
Prayer Starter: God of Love, fill us with the joy of experiencing your life and your goodness. We praise you yet again and again because it is a joy to do so. Amen.
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Shared by Robert Barkely
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