Verse of the Week: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Truth of the Week: True joy is found in the presence of Jesus, and is experienced as we draw near to Him – discovering who He is and delighting in what is discovered.
Most of us would be quick to give mental assent to this truth, and equally quick to admit that moving it from our minds to the everyday moments of our lives can, at times, feel hopelessly difficult.
If we desire joy (and we do) and we know where it is to be found (and we do) then why must everyday be a battle to not turn elsewhere?
Part of the reason is obvious – sin! We each have within us a fallen flesh that, this side of heaven, will in some measure be enticed by the flashy substitutes offered to us by the world. On top of that, we have an adversary whose very name and nature lead him to try and deceive us into thinking that something or someone other than God will be able to satisfy us.
But sin and Satan are not the only reasons that finding joy in Jesus is an ongoing battle; perhaps they are not even the main reasons. Perhaps the daily fight for delight in God was designed by God Himself as a means to keep us humble, dependent, diligent, and grateful (among other things.) I know for me, that without the need to labor and exert energy, I would quickly grow complacent and settle for counterfeit pleasures. If joy was always immediate and easy to access, I am certain that I would develop a smug, self-righteous, and arrogant attitude. The need to continually fight for joy guards me from growing forgetful of where my true joy flows – in the presence of my Savior.
Thankfully, God has not left us to battle alone – His steadfast grace is new every morning. So, let us daily endeavor to labor with all the strength that He supplies to drink deeply of the joy that He offers in Himself.
Quote of the Week: “The Lord Jesus is a deep sea of joy: My soul shall dive in and shall be swallowed up in the delights of His company.” (Spurgeon)
