Courageous Contagious Joy

Everyone wants joy. I want it. You want it. Jesus promised it. He promised joy you cannot lose. He said this to his disciples:

Courageous joy is only found in JESUS. He gives joy the world cannot steal.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” John 16:20-22

John 16:20-21

Max Lucado said, “Everyone is looking for joy. Marketing companies know this. Every commercial promises the same product: joy. Want some joy? Buy our hand cream. Want some joy? Sleep on this mattress. Want some joy? Eat at this restaurant, drive this car, wear this dress. Every commercial portrays the image of a joy-filled person. Even Preparation H. Before using the product, the guy frowns, and squirms in his chair. Afterwards, he is the image of joy.” Source: Contagious Joy

Source: Contagious Joy https://maxlucado.com/contagious-joy/

He then says, “Joy. Everyone wants it. Everyone promises it. But can anyone deliver it? It might surprise you to know that joy is a big topic in the Bible. Simply put: God wants his children to be joy-filled. Just like a father wants his baby to laugh with glee, God longs for us to experience a deep-seated, deeply rooted joy.” The joy God longs for in us, he gives to us. That is the story of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Immanuel. Immanuel means “God with us.” Now that is joy!

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

They have joy that is not based on contingencies. It is the result of a transformed heart.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.