REJOICING IN GOD

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (Romans 5:8-11)

Devotion 3 of 4 PRODUCED BY GOD

True spiritual joy--rejoicing in God Himself--is the result of His own work. God is integral to every valid spiritual awareness. It is not possible to experience the benefits of salvation without the God of salvation. Scripture bears record to this truth. "Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased" (Psalm 4:7). "And He brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness" (Psalm 105:43). There are those who question HOW God puts gladness in the heart, or perhaps WHY. These may be arresting considerations, but they are not always profitable ones. The important thing is that you can rely upon your God to do this. The fuller revelation we have received in Christ expands upon this reality. "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). Notice the glorious Person: "The God of hope." See the generosity of your God: "fill you." Take hold of the scope of rejoicing: "all joy." See the environment in which joy is experienced; "in believing." Apprehend the wonderful result of spiritual joy: "that ye may abound in hope." Take hold of the appointed means; "through the power of the Holy Spirit." If you have never experienced this type of joy, be strong in faith, and you will receive the blessing. How wonderfully the truth is again stated. "Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Colossians 1:11). The joy of the Lord is utilitarian. It is not just an emotional high. It enables the believer to endure the difficulties of the faith-life. It sustains us in a hostile world, hounded by a persistent enemy, and living in a frail and "vile body." When persecuted, early believers "rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name" (Acts 5:41). This was the result of seeing God more clearly that the enemy. When heaven eclipses earth, joy erupts! Because this type of rejoicing requires power, we are "strengthened with all might" -- Divine might. The power which produces spiritual joy is "glorious power" -- the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Here is another expression of this truth. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy . . . " (Galatians 5:22). This is the product of divine working. The Holy Spirit brings joy to us by the thoughts that He encourages. This is the means He employs, bringing to our "remembrance" "exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4). This is why our "joy" is called "the joy of the Holy Spirit." "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 1:6). The joy which the Lord gives extends into eternity. We are promised that God can even cause us to stand before His Throne with unparalleled joy. "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24). There is no other religion that offers something like that! The thought of standing before the throne of God is frightening to sinners. But it is different for those that trust in Him with all of their heart. God is "able" to keep YOU from falling. He is able to present YOU faultless and without blame before Himself. And He is able to do so with YOU shouting for joy. You must not allow the devil to take this truth from you! PRAYER POINT: Father, according to Your Word, fill me with all joy and peace in believing, that I may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. -- Romans 15:13

-- TOMORROW: JOY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT --