The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

The Fruit of the Spirit:  Joy

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

May we never forget that the attributes of God are manifested in the fruit of the Spirit.  We easily see and accept God as loving.  We receive His agape.  We need also to remember that God is joyful.  We must be as willing to accept His joy as we are willing to accept His love.  We have filled our imaginations with images of the piety of heaven filled with somber-faced saints and expressionless angelic beings surrounding the Throne. 

But joy is a fruit of the Spirit.  True joy has its foundation in agape, in love.  Heaven reverberates with the sounds of laughter.  Just as joy surrounds the Throne of Heaven, joy should surround our lives as well.  God is joyful.  His desire is that we should be joyful as well. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, said, “Sour godliness is the devil’s religion.” Refuse to go there.

While happiness may depend upon our circumstances, joy depends upon our relationship with the Lord.  Therefore, joy transcends happiness. An abiding relationship with the Lord enables us to be joyful in spite of our circumstances. 

When the group led by Nehemiah returned from Persia to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, they faced opposition and accusation. When the wall was completed, the people gathered as Ezra the priest read to them from the Law of Moses.  Upon hearing the word of God, the people turned from their celebration and lamented that they had fallen so far away from God during the years of their captivity.  Nehemiah encouraged them. “Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV)

Joy allows us to get beyond our past and rejoice in the Lord’s deliverance.  Anguish weakens us.  Joy strengthens us for our journey through this life.  Joy is a life-giving, life-sustaining force.

▪Proverbs 15:13-15 (NKJV)
^“ A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.”

▪Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)
^“A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God.  Our hearts are His throne.  Just as joy surrounds the heavenly throne, joy must surround His throne in our hearts.  Because of the Holy Spirit, joy resides in us.  It is our choice to walk in it.  Let’s choose to go forth in joy and victory in the Lord. The joy of the Lord is our strength.