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Friday, October 25, 2024

The Joy of Abiding in Jesus

 


If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

—John 15:10-11

 

Some people regard abiding in Jesus as something that takes the joy out of life. However, Jesus said that in His presence is fullness of joy (Psalms 16:11). Abiding in Jesus causes us to have fullness of joy. There is fulfillment, pleasure, gratification, and joy in Jesus that is unsurpassed by anything else in this life.

 

Some Christians don’t experience this depth of joy Jesus spoke of because they aren’t abiding in Him. There is no other reason. In the presence of the Lord, there is fullness of joy. If we genuinely believe this, we will abide, stay, and remain in that place of expectancy. We will rejoice with “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

 

The statements about keeping Jesus’ commandments were spoken so we would abide in His love and our joy would be complete. They weren’t spoken to oppress us but so we might experience joyful pleasure in the Lord. The oldest deception of the enemy tells us that God's commandments are given to keep us from experiencing a joy-filled life. That is the lie he told Eve (Genesis 3:4-5). Preferring her own way over God’s way didn’t bring Eve happiness. It only brought her and all of us the grief of sin.

 

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). 

 

God has given us His commandments because He desires us to experience His abundant joy in this life. But we don’t have enough sense to choose the right way (Proverbs 16:25, Jeremiah 10:23). So He chose the right way for us. If we keep His commandments, the Lord assures us that our joy will be full.

 

The Lord desires us to have joy—not just a “little” joy or a “sometimes” joy. He desires us to have abundant, consistent, and satisfying joy. Christians who abide in Jesus are satisfied in Him. They are filled with Jesus and have no room for discouragement or fear. They are the only ones in this world who really have a reason to be joyful. 

 

The joy of the Lord is our strength. It is an offensive weapon against the enemy and one of the most potent weapons we have against depression, discouragement, and fear. Jesus spoke these things to His disciples the night before His crucifixion (John 16:1) so they wouldn’t be offended. He was preparing them for the worst time of their lives. If Jesus’ words could sustain His disciples through such a depressing and discouraging time, then there is no reason for us not to experience God’s joy through our hardships. When our faith is severely tested, praising the Lord will take our attention off our problems, focus it on Jesus, and release the joy that comes through faith (1 Peter 1:8).

 

While we were yet sinners, God loved us (Romans 5:8). Keeping Jesus’ commandments doesn’t affect God loving us. But it does affect us loving God. Hence, keeping Jesus’ commandments keeps us in His love and affects our ability to stay intimate with Him so our joy might be whole and complete.

 

Do you experience joy? Do you abide and remain in Him? Do you live in a state of expectancy regardless of your circumstances, or have you allowed trying times to rob you of your joy?

 

Abide. Remain. Stay continually in Jesus. Don’t return to your own way. The Lord restores the joy of your salvation and upholds you with His generous Spirit (Psalms 51:12).

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/10/the-joy-of-abiding-in-jesus.html

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