Posted by: Abby
Okay, so before we dive into attaining joy, let's do a little recap. What is joy? Joy is a state of mind. It is a way of life. At its fullest, it is present even in grief. So we know what joy is, but what does that matter if we don't know how to use it? How do we get joy anyways? Well, let's look at some verses that will explain it in a little bit better than I could. The first one is Nehemiah 12:43. "Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off." God gives us joy. Even more than that, God gives us His joy. In verse 43 it says blatantly that God made them rejoice, or express their joy, so it only makes sense that God gave them the joy they're experiencing. If we pray to God for His joy then he can no doubt help us. Our second verse is taken from Philemon 1:7: "For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother." Joy also comes from love. And I could go into greater detail with that, but I'd like to tie it into something else first, and in order to do that we need to look at 1 Chronicles 29:17. "I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You." Okay, here's where it all becomes clear. Through God, we receive joy. Through love, we receive joy, and as it says here in this verse we see that we get joy by being upright, or abiding by the commandments. Now, what are the Ten Commandments guidelines for? You got it! They're guidelines for being loving. Now, if we get joy from being loving and love is at the same time following the commandments, which were put into place by God, well then, it all makes perfect sense. God has put into place laws that bring us joy. So what is the answer to our question of how to get joy? It may seem as if it's simply abiding by God's law. But it goes deeper than that. Abiding by God's laws is in reality, being loving, which is being like Jesus. God gives us joy by allowing us to be like him, because after all, he has the fullest joy. (Psalms 16:11) So if you want to have that joy, then all you have to do is plead with the Father for it. Because after all, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7
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Posted by: Abby
What is joy? Well, the dictionary says it's, "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation." While this may be true, it also goes deeper than that. Joy has to be something more than just a fleeting emotion, right? Something that's there one moment and then gone the next. If I were to define joy, I would define it as not only an emotion, but a mindset and not only that, but lasting happiness. So, how can we affirm this definition and what it implies? The Bible seems to have a few things to say about joy, and isn't the Bible is truthful. In that case, let's look at some verses. Isaiah 61:3 "To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." Now I want you to look at one thing here in particular, and that is the part that reads, "The oil of joy for mourning." If joy was only a fleeting emotion, then how could it coexist with mourning and grieving? It couldn't. Even within sadness, we can still be joyful. To further this even more, we can be joyful within suffering as well. Take a look at Hebrews twelve and verse two. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 Even at the cross Jesus was joyful, or at least, was looking to the joy that was before him. How could this be possible if joy were only an emotion. Once again, it just couldn't be possible. There is joy in sadness and suffering because being joyful is a way of life. With Jesus' help, we can be joyful all the time. Wouldn't that be great to know that even though you're going through something rough or even tragic, joy is still present in your life. One more verse to convey what joy is. "Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation." Isaiah 12:3 Joy is a key to salvation. This makes sense, if you think about it. Think of a heaven where nobody was joyful. Everyone is sad and copy, nobody smiling. Yeah, it doesn't sound so great to me. Jesus wants us to reflect him and his joy, and by doing so, we become more like him, which in turn, helps to open the doors of salvation to us. So, joy is an emotion, and a mindset, but it is also part of the key to salvation. Just remember that even in the times that you feel least happy, Jesus can still give you joy. Posted by: Anna
Honor is one of those things- you find it quite a bit in the Bible. And sometimes, it's a concept that seems simple, yet we don't always think about what all it implies. Yesterday at Bible study with my church, however, my pastor brought the word ‘honor’ into a whole new light. The definition of honor is to ‘regard with great respect’. So when a verse tells you to honor your father and mother, you’re to regard them with respect. Yes. . . but it’s more than that. A lot of the neatest things I’ve learned about Scripture has been when my pastor (or someone else) points out the meaning behind a word/verse in the original language. The same goes for honor. In a lot of verses, the word honor is from the Hebrew word ‘kabed’. Let’s look at the definition of kabed! It’s ‘to be heavy, weighty’. More precisely: ‘to weigh heavy’. What does that mean? Let’s take Ephesians 6:1-4. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Instead of honor your father and mother, let’s do ‘weigh heavy’ your father and mother. What would that imply? Think about who influences you. Who influences the way you talk? The way you dress? The things you do? The places you go? The things you like? In this verse, to honor your parents is to weigh them heavy, to accept their instruction and influence above others. To some extent- you have to do that anyway. But keep in mind that Paul addresses this verse to children. He doesn’t say: “Parents, make your children obey you. Make them honor you.” No, he says: “Children, obey your parents!” We have a responsibility to obey and honor our parents, to weigh them heavy. And as my pastor pointed out yesterday in Bible study, this is a big deal in God’s book! (literally) That verse from Ephesians? It gives multiple reasons for obeying/honoring our parents. -Obey your parents in the Lord. -Because it’s right. -That it’s one of the Ten Commandments. We generally divide the Ten Commandments into the first four, which are about our relationship with God, and the remaining six, about our relationship with people. Thus, obeying our parents falls in the second category. However, the Jews split them evenly in half, so that that was part of our relationship with God! Why? Maybe because our parents are the closest ‘model’ of God we have. They’re our authority, they’re also some of the people that love us most. They guide us, they discipline us, they help us. I’d say honoring, weighing heavy, our parents is a big deal; and something we can always work on. Now let’s take this concept further. “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13 “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.” 1 Peter 2:17 Outdo one another in showing honor, and honor everyone. . . so always be trying to weigh others heavy. Always put others before yourself. Always be considerate to their needs and ideas, before your own. Easier said than done, of course. But think about it. How could you put others before yourself? What are some ways you can be more feeling toward other people? I’d say that goes with the rest of the verse, too. “Love one another with brotherly affection.” I won’t go into how important love is. I’ve done that before and I’m planning on doing it again in a future post, but you get the idea! One of the definitions of love is to put someone else’s needs before your own. Isn’t that weighing them heavy? Obviously, we’re called to honor others. We’re specifically called to honor our parents, and authority. What about God? What would our lives look like if we always weighed God heavy? If what He thought meant more to us than what the world thought? There’s a ton verses on this. Being transformed by the renewal of our mind, not conformed to the world. Seeking the things above, not the things on earth. Living according to the Spirit and not the flesh. That friendship with the world is enmity with God. Or one of my personal favorites, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 My point is this: I think we all need to work on weighing God heavy. Me as much as anyone. It’s sometimes far easier for me to be interested in what I’m ‘supposed’ to be interested in according to the culture, than it is for me to be interested in my relationship with Christ and His Word. It’s sometimes far easier for me to want to dress how my friends dress, or in what’s considered fashionable, then to dress in a way that’s pleasing to God. It’s sometimes far easier for me to heed other people’s opinions and ideas than the Bible’s. But if I was weighing God heavy, I would care most about what He wanted me to do. I would strive to please Him. I would study His Word, to better know how to please Him. I would desire His approval and love more than the world’s. That’s hard to do. I’d be lying if I said I’m a confident, bold person that isn’t afraid to be different, isn’t afraid to maybe be unpopular because of it. I’m not. I’m shy, I’m timid. I hate confrontation. I want people to like me. However. Though I may have to remind myself of it, though it may not come easy, though it may take effort. . . ultimately, I want God’s approval above man’s. And the Bible says to honor God. To weigh Him heavy in my life. |
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