Joy and Godliness

Grace To You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

"I rejoice and share my joy with you" (Phil. 2:17).

True joy is directly related to godly living.

Philippians is often called the epistle of joy—and rightly so because the believer's joy is its major theme. Paul loved the Philippian Christians and they loved Him. When they learned that he had been imprisoned for preaching the gospel, they were deeply concerned.

Paul wrote to alleviate their fears and encourage their joy. Of his own circumstances he said, "Even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me" (Phil. 2:17- 18).

Often a Jewish animal sacrifice was accompanied by a libation or drink offering (e.g., Num. 15:1-10). The animal was the greater sacrifice; the libation the lesser. Drawing from that picture, Paul placed greater significance on the faith and spiritual well-being of his readers than on his own life. To suffer for Christ's sake brought him joy, and he wanted the Philippians to understand that perspective and rejoice with him.

He also wanted them to understand that joy doesn't operate in a vacuum. It's directly related to godly living. Christ is its source; obedience is its sustenance. We see that in David's cry of repentance: "Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation" (Ps. 51:12). Paul knew the joy of the Lord because he trusted Christ and obeyed His will.

The scarcity of joy and godliness in the world today makes it imperative that Christians manifest those characteristics. As we do, others will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).

This month we will highlight various aspects of joy and godliness from Philippians 1:1-11 and Colossians 1:9-12. I pray you will be eager to learn from God's Word, and willingly obey what you learn, for therein is "joy inexpressible and full of glory" (1 Pet. 1:8).

Suggestions for Prayer

Ask the Holy Spirit to use our daily studies to strengthen your joy and increase your godliness. Seek to emulate Paul's attitude of preferring others to yourself—a key element in joyful living.

For Further Study

Read the book of Philippians, noting each reference to joy.

What brought joy to Paul? On what or whom do you rely for joy?

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[OrangeHoof]

I used to think that joy meant “abundantly happy” but now I’ve come to believe that joy is a byproduct from God’s grace and only exists as a gift from God. I’ve experienced it twice in my life. Once was right after I was saved. It was not a logical happiness but a feeling of being cleansed and at one with God.

The other time came during a deep painful spiritual struggle when I wrote down a list of all my sins and confessed them to the Lord one by one then asked they be removed from my heart as far as East was from West. Indeed, I felt cleansed and at one with God. I had a feeling of bliss that was not based on circumstances. It was just - for lack of a better word - joy.

My minister had something else to say on the subject. He said to think of joy as like a really large ball. The only way to hold the ball, he said, is to let everything else go. You can’t hold joy and hold onto anything else. In my experience my joy only lasted a few days each time. Suffice it to say I’m not very good at this (lol).

But I suspect that when we die from this earth and join the Lord in Heaven, we will be in a state of perpetual joy which will explain why we won’t have any tears and why just being in God’s presence will make anything else we ever experience pale in comparison.