JOY – Episode 7 – Jump for Joy

 

JOY – Episode 7 – Jump for Joy, for your reward in heaven is great!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

It is at least interesting that the fruit of the Spirit of Joy is positioned between Love and Peace. Could it be coincidental that we must find love which comes before joy in order to find peace in our lives?

When and from what sources do you find joy? Is it in a job well done? From your career, hobby, family, possessions or good fortune?

This word, JOY, in the Bible and from the Greek language in which it was written, is ‘chara’,  (pronounced, ‘khar-ah’), means  joy, delight, gladness, a source of joy. The picture is “to extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed”. More properly, it means the awareness of God’s grace and favor. Joy is found when God’s grace is recognized.

Read with me over the coming episodes, examples of what the scriptures say about JOY.

“Rejoice on that day and jump for JOY, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For their fathers used to treat the prophets the same way.”  (Luke 6:23).

Jesus is seated on the Mount and delivers the most beloved and iconic messages of His earthly ministry. Most commenters, Bible teachers and preachers point out that this sermon or series of sermons is primarily about moral and ethical living, which is true enough. I, however, want to point out that beyond the obvious and profound lesson on ethics and morality, Jesus’ Words are a deep look into the psyche of the human mind, soul and spirit. They are prophetic in their nature and effect when absorbed by the student or disciple. They have even had a positive effect on the lives of millions who have followed these teachings, but who are not Christians.

These teachings, which are given in greater length and detail in Matthew chapters five through seven. But Matthew chapter five, verses one through twenty are a synopsis of His entire ‘Sermon on the Mount’, and are a picture of salvation and the process of entire sanctification.

The context of this verse is found in the preceding verses: Luke 7:22-23, “Blessed are you when the people hate you, and when they exclude you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and jump for JOY, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For their fathers used to treat the prophets the same way.”

Jesus’ promise is that if you follow Him (and thereby live according to His teachings), you can be assured that you will be excluded by others, you will be insulted, and scorned as an evil person for doing good and by association, for expecting the same of others. This will not always be a pleasant experience here on earth. But, this is the way. When lived out with the right motives and attitude, your faithfulness and good works will be greatly rewarded in heaven! (Please note that this will not earn your way into heaven. That comes from faith in Christ Jesus, alone. Your faithful obedience to His Words will, however, earn you great reward).

So, yes, jump for JOY!  You will receive the reward of eternal sanctuary in the presence of God. A new heaven and a new earth; And the tabernacle of God will be among His people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.

And He who sits on the throne says, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Then He will say, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost. The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.” (see Revelation 22).

Our world is spiraling out of control. There are wars and rumors of war, nations are rising against nations; there are new diseases coming upon us, sickness, poverty, famines, earthquakes, lawlessness, and deceit. But in the midst of all of this, there is profound hope. These things are the signs of His coming. He is coming on the clouds, and at the sound of the trumpet, every eye will see Him, and He will gather His elect from the four winds and corners of the earth, and we will be assembled before His Throne, saying Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty!

Rejoice and be full of Joy! Our redemption draws near!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS:  JOY – Episode 6 – Good News of Great Joy.

NEXT: (coming soon).  JOY – Episode 8 – Receive the Word with Joy.

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes).

PS: Here is an excellent video by The Bible Project on the Sermon on the Mount. Give it a look and learn!