For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit. Because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Romans 14:17-18
Paul tells us very plainly that the kingdom of God is a matter of not only righteousness and peace, but also JOY. Furthermore, we learn from verse 18 that without joy, our lives are really not very pleasing to God. The fact is, only Christians have a reason to be joyful, but it is also a fact that every Christian should be joyful. True Christian joy is both a privilege and a duty. Jesus said, “I have come that they (His sheep) may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) He has come that our lives might be full of joy. Twice in his talk to the disciples on the evening of his betrayal, Jesus referred to the joy that he desired for them to have. He has done it all to make it possible for us to live joyful lives.
But we are not to sit around waiting for our circumstances to make us joyful. We are COMMANDED to be joyful always (1 Thessalonians 5:16). We are to rejoice always (Philippians 4:4). Paul is quite emphatic about this: “I will say it again: Rejoice!” Like the other character traits in the bible, joy is not an option available only to those whose temperament is conducive to it. God intends that every one of his children exhibit the fruit of joy.
Just being joyful is not enough, however; we should continually be growing in joy. It is a contradiction for a Christian who professes to be a child of the one and only God who created the universe, and who governs it for his glory and the good of His people, to wear a gloomy countenance. As John W. Sanderson says, “It is practical atheism, for it ignores God and His attributes.” Yet if we are honest, most of us must admit that life is so often anything but joyful. It often seems that at best life is dull, and at worst it is filled with anxiety, conflict, tension. What is it that blocks joy in our lives? (more…)
