1 John 1:4
“And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”
One thing every Christian should try to get is joy. Joy is not a possession that one obtains, but it is a result of actions. God said that He wrote His Word so that our “joy may be full.” When the world sees true joy in your life, you will find that they will begin to want what you have for the world is in search of joy. Let me give some thoughts concerning joy.
First, joy does not come from the outside, but it comes from the inside. In other words, joy is not a result of what you have on the outside. Many make the mistake of thinking if they can get more things that they will be joyful. This is why you see people constantly trying to get bigger homes, better cars, more money and more possessions. They think these things will bring them joy, and they do not.
Joy is a result of what you have on the inside. This is why it’s important that everyone gets saved because they will never have true joy until they have the source of joy living in their heart which is Jesus Christ. When a person has the love of God in their heart, they will find true joy. Joy doesn’t change because outside circumstances change. When trials come, joy is still present because it comes from the love of God which does not change. When heartaches come our way, joy is still present because the love of God still dwells within our hearts. You must understand that your joy will never be full until you start dwelling on the source of joy which is on the inside.
Second, God wants His children to be joyful. God would not say that He can make your joy full if He didn’t want you to be joyful. The world truly needs to see Christians who exhibit joy. One of the things I see in churches as I travel are Christians who never let their face know what they have on the inside. Sometime you need to look at your pictures and see if you look joyful. A smile on the face can exhibit what you have on the inside. If you are not one given to smiling, let me encourage you to change that bad habit and learn to start smiling.
Third, your joy will only be full when you read and obey God’s Word. God said that He wrote His Word so that your “joy may be full.” In other words, you will never know how to have full joy until you read the Word of God. If you don’t have a regular time in the Scriptures, you are missing the source that can give joy throughout the day. Friend, I challenge you to be sure to start your day off in the Scriptures so that your joy may be full.
Fourth, you can have joy without having full joy. You goal as a Christian should be to have full joy. In other words, have the complete joy of God in your heart. A Christian will immediately have the source of joy in their heart when they get saved, and knowing that you are going to Heaven will give you joy; however, when you read God’s Word and obey It, you will find how to use the joy you have on the inside to its fullest.
Friend, if you are saved, inside of you is the source of joy upon which you should focus. Reading God’s Word and obeying It will help you to learn how to have joy to its fullest. Let the joy on the inside spill over to your face and attitude. When people see that you are full of joy, it is then they will want what you have.