The Fruit of the Spirit: Joyनमुना

The longing of God the Father and Jesus the Son is described in this verse: that we will be filled with their joy.

The chapter begins with the well-known passage of the vine and the branches, which sets the basis of the verse of today. Joy is rooted in our relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit, as their joy becomes our part.

Realize that Jesus spoke these words on the night before he was arrested to be crucified. He knew what would happen to Him in the coming hours, but still, He spoke to the disciples about His joy even at this moment of sorrow.

It has to do with what we read in Heb. 12:2 (NLT) ...” Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

Jesus' joy is derived from knowing that the price of dying would lead to the triumph of bringing sons and daughters into fellowship with the Father.

Jesus asks us to have the same obedience to the Father that He has. We see this earlier in the chapter, where Jesus speaks about Him being the vine, and we are the branches. We are to remain in Him; that is, in a relationship. These verses lead up to verse 10 of John, where we read, “When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love.”

Jesus told us all these things so that we would be filled with His joy. Our joy is rooted in being in a relationship with the Father, through the Son, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Father, my prayer today is that I will follow all your commands, be obedient to your call and follow you in all I do. Father, fill me with your joy, amen.