JOY

Webster's dictionary expresses the meaning of joy as: "the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires."





Quite a different definition is given in the book of Hebrews 12:2 , "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy set before Him the Cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of GOD." How many of us would count it joy if we were to go through what He did before going to the cross? Then, taking on all of mankind's sin from Adam and Eve to the last human being He will create, yet He counted it as joy for the salvation of those who would accept His free gift of Eternal life!

 However, when you look at what the apostles went through after Christ's ascension, they too faced the wickedness of man. Saul* stood holding cloaks as Stephen was stoned to death for his following of Christ, yet heaven opened up to Stephen and he saw the glory and joy of GOD before being received into heaven to be with Christ and our Almighty Father GOD! *Acts 7:54-60

Saul**, however, came to understand the joy of our LORD when from heaven Christ spoke to him on the road to Damascus and Saul's conversion occurred bringing him to be called Paul. The murderer of Christians now had become the New Testament's greatest witness for Christ! **Acts 9:1-6 

 Biblical history will show the horrific death that the apostles and disciples went through yet their testimonies counted it as joy to suffer and die for Christ knowing that their great reward awaited them in heaven.

 James 1:2, "Reckon it nothing but joy my brethren whenever you find yourselves hedged in by various trials."

I Peter 4:13, "Instead be very glad - because these trials will make you partners with Christ in His suffering and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing His glory when it is displayed to all the world."

II Corinthians 8:2, "Despite severe trials... their joy has overflowed in a wealth of generosity."  

 In America we are very blessed!!! The joy in our hearts is overflowing. Could we say the same thing if we were to come under the trials that many Christians do in other countries? For many of them are under the persecution that Paul and the Apostles encountered, even unto death.

  If you are a Christian, joy means something different to you than it does to those who do not know Christ as their Savior. John 4:14 speaks of our joy being "a well of 'living'  water springing up to Eternal life." Our joy continues whether we are in trials or in great times of blessings from our Almighty GOD.  My father suffered 13 months with pancreatic cancer, but when the LORD called him home, what a joyful moment even though it has now been 23 years. The sparkle in his eyes reflected the very glory of heaven  as he counted the angels descending to take him Home! But then, he saw Christ on His Throne and the joy that overflowed in him caused him to push away our touch and caressing. Just before he died, he let out a joyful glee which made us look to the ceiling knowing he was then with our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD!

 Whether we  be in the joy of our LORD's blessings or the joy of this world's trials, Christ told His own in I Corinthians 10:13, "GOD is faithful Who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are not able to bear."  So what is joy?  See my next blog!