Joy

I Jn. 1:4

And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

 

John wanted believers to experience the full joy of Jesus. In the gospel of John chapter 15 he wrote about abiding and how that unless we live and dwell in Christ realizing our helplessness and His strength, we will not have complete joy. Without Him, we can do nothing. Nothing means nothing! And still believers try their hardest to be what they should reducing Christianity to a matter of rules and regulations requiring self-discipline and personal strength. Obviously, this is going to produce a truck load of frustration! Living in Christ is not a earthly process. It is a heavenly process only accomplished by the indwelling Christ and the Holy Spirit. Abiding in Jesus and in the Father's love will produce His joy in us, and that God-given joy will be complete!

 

So as John begins I John, he emphasizes that very fact again, complete joy! Why does he qualify joy as complete? Perhaps because earthly joy is so transitory and short-lived. Since it is based on circumstances, events, and relationships, things are constantly changing. There are good days and bad days including prosperity and poverty. Relationships wane. Even marriage itself has no permanence. Sadly, nothing is stable! But still people try their hardest to find meaning and joy. Instead of seeing the void that all this activity produces, they either try again or just give up. But John has the answer for all this. It is Jesus, living and abiding in Him, being born again, anew in the Spirit, and living and walking by faith. The things that the world offers are exposed for the shadows that they really are, and the joy that it offers appears shallow and empty. John is writing from his own personal experience. He had seen with his eyes and touched with his hands the Word of Life. He knew first hand the joy that a relationship with Jesus would produce. He was writing for that simple reason. He wanted to share that joy with others so that they could experience the same thing that he had.

 

The first crucial area he writes about is sin, the problem that has plagued man since the beginning. But John has good news, if you confess your sin, Jesus is faithful to forgive. Forgiveness is available for all, believers and unbelievers! But to be forgiven, confession must take place. People must humbly confess that they are sinners. Doesn't sound that hard, but for some it is. It would mean saying that they were not adequate, and that in them was nothing worthy. They would have to admit that they couldn't help themselves. Personal pride finds saying this repugnant! No way! But until this is done, people might find momentary joy, but not complete joy. That is only in abiding in Christ, and abiding does not include sin! Verse 10 says If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar. Strong words! So who is it going to be? Am I going to cling to my own shabby self-righteous, or am I going to confess and acknowledge my sin and cling to Him for forgiveness and complete joy? Thankfully, His power is made perfect in my weakness!

 

Father,

I want Your complete joy, joy that is not altered in trials, illness, and circumstances. Reveal to me the sin in my life that is clouding my vision of You. I want Your complete joy.  

In and through the Word of Life, 

Amen