Why are so many Christians so…unenthused about the faith? So lacking in what I would call Christian joie de vivre? Why are we so urgent and even angry or fearful about goings on in the world? Shouldn’t we be the people who, come what may, know joy? Our reading for today is from The Gospel of the Kingdom, pages 63 and 64:
“We may lay hold of our joy by engaging in prayer; reading and meditating in the Word of God; sharing in fellowship with other believers; receiving good news and reports about the wellbeing of God’s people; nurturing love for the unseen Christ; sharing in the sufferings of our Lord; serving the Lord’s people well; and participating in the unity of God’s people.
“Thus, believers should not be strangers to the joy of their salvation, the joy of the Kingdom of God. God is always ready to meet us with joy, and He has provided ample means whereby we may engage Him for the joy that is to be known in His presence. “Only our slothfulness, distractedness, or neglect of His salvation – or the idolatry of seeking our joy in places other than the presence of God – can keep us from living in joy now, and in anticipation of the fullness of joy yet to come.”
For reflection or discussion
1. Can you describe the joy of the Lord? What it’s like to be in His joy? To rejoice in Him?
2. What can we do to be more clearly agents of grace and joy to our world?
God has brought us into His joy through Jesus Christ, and He has appointed us joy-bearers to the world. What a privilege, and what a mandate! Share today’s podcast with a friend, then get together to discuss how you can encourage one another more consistently in the joy of the Lord. Joy is huge part of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Order your copy of our book, The Gospel of the Kingdom, by going to The Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
