Unending Joy

God’s people should be filled with joy. Joy should be a defining characteristic of the life of a Believer. We have joy that lasts and is not dependent on our circumstances. An examination of the reasons for our joy is in order today.

*We have joy because we are forgiven. Our debt has been paid through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Be joyful, dear Christian. You are forgiven.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.  Ephesians 1:7

*Joy is available to us because of God’s mercy. God has mercifully withheld from us what we truly deserve. Jesus took the punishment that was rightfully ours. As a result, we receive mercy. We deserved death but God has given us life. We earned Hell but God has promised us Heaven. We merit separation from God but He has reconciled us. Be thankful today for God’s mercy.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:4-7

*Joy flows to the Christ-follower as a result of God’s grace. Not only has God withheld from us what we rightfully warrant, He has given us blessings that we do not deserve. We have relationship with God, the power of the Holy Spirt, and the promise of His abiding presence. And frankly, we do not deserve any of these things. Yet, through grace we have “God’s riches at Christ’s expense.” Jesus paid the price and we reap the rewards of God’s grace.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

We have every reason to be joyful. May joy mark our lives and identify us a Christ-followers!

Tony French