Shareable Joy
Is your faith attractive?
Verse of the Day
“We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.”
Today’s Devotional
The author of this book, most likely the apostle John, is writing about Jesus. The same Jesus he saw with his own eyes. The same Jesus he saw heal and love and die. The same Jesus that he saw again after three days, raised from the dead. The author is proclaiming these things so that the readers can be in fellowship with the author, with fellow believers, with God the Father, and with Jesus the Son. Sharing this amazing, life changing information brings joy. Those of us who have accepted Jesus have an inherent joy. Not all believers live out that joy, probably because they are stuck somewhere along the faith journey. I’ve been there.
But have you ever thought about how joy can be shared? Have you gone to the hospital to visit first time parents as they introduce you to their new child? You are all sharing joy. And there is something that I have learned about the fruit of the Spirit. The more I give away, or share something that I receive from God, the more I have. If I love you even when you are unlovable, the more love I have. The more joy I express, the easier it is to find more joy. The more gratitude I express, the more reasons I see for being grateful. The provisions of God are inexhaustible resources for us. We cannot run out as long as we stay plugged in to the Source.
This goes against what the world teaches us. If you have resources and you decide to share, then naturally you will have less than you did before you shared. But that math doesn’t work with gifts from God. The more you share, the more you have. Personally, I prefer God’s math.
Another thought about sharing joy: I believe that Jesus lived by the principle of attraction rather than promotion. He wasn’t out there trying to convert people to believe in Him. He was loving people and teaching people in such a way that they were drawn to learn more. They were attracted to what He was doing. So…that makes me ask myself…am I living a life of joy that is attractive to others? Do they look at my actions and words and want to know more about what I’ve got?
I believe that we can bring more people to faith in Jesus by living out our joy in a way that is attractive. I want people to think, “Whatever it is that she’s got, I want it too.” We may not have seen Jesus face-to-face on this earth, but we all have a history with God. We have personal stories of how he has shown up. We have stories of deliverance. Of change. Of victory. I want to live in a way that points to God and draws others to him through my joy.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
Is your faith attractive?
Do you easily share in the joy of others?
Do you easily share your own joy?
Do you live each day in a way that points to God or your current problems? Every day, you get to pick. Choose wisely.