~ Christian Joy Is A Deep-Seated Satisfaction
Regardless Of Circumstances ~
Overview Scripture ~ “For
you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness,
righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:8-11).
Series Scripture ~ “But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control. Against such there is
no law. And those who are Christ’s have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in
the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-25). It is
important to note that while this passage lists nine fruits of the Spirit it is
not a complete list—which includes “all
goodness, righteousness, and truth” as seen above in Ephesians 5.
Comment ~ Joy
is very different from happiness.
Happiness is typically dependent upon current circumstances. True joy however is a deep seated and
consistent satisfaction which remains constant regardless of what is occurring in
your life.
Natural Man
~ The key question is do you enjoy
the
pleasures of sin and worldly lusts?
“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather
to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures
of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures
in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26).
“When He had called the people to Himself, with His
disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For
what will it profit a man if he gains the
whole world, and loses his own soul?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in
this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be
ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels’” (Mark
8:34-38).
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
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