I have heard it said that laughter is the best medicine. Well God’s Word says something that is similar, and much more long term impactful.

“²²A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

— Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)

Notice that it is the joyful heart that is the good medicine. Having the joy of the LORD in your heart is what keeps us going for the long term. Yes, laughter will relax you and bring forth the endorphins that aid in healing. That laughter lasts for the time that it is manifest through the event you are in. Joy on the other hand is a lifestyle and as noted in Merriam-Webster Online, “a source or cause of delight”. Joy is the source of the laughter and not just the result of the event.

I may not always be laughing as all situations are not laughable, and if it is the laughter I am looking for as the source of healing, I will only have it in doses periodically throughout my time. Joy on the other hand is something I can have with me at all times and will use to generate healing regardless of the situation or circumstance.

Where are you looking for medicine? Are you looking to the individual events that lead to laughter? What if you dug in and captured the joy of the LORD in your heart and fed on it for your medicine?

I have heard the phrase “sharing is caring” for a long while now. In fact, I have used it with my boys over the years while they were younger. Shouldn’t we embrace the same phrase as we are adults as pertains to Christ.

I have continued my study of the word “joy” this morning and have come to 1 John and read through the first four verses and have been reminded of the sharing of Christ and all that He has to offer with those around me. I am to ensure that those of like mind know that which I know and we share with each other.

“¹That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— ²the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— ³that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” — 1 John 1:1-3 (ESV)

I know, this is only the first three verses. I wanted to first show that we are called to share all that is Christ to generate fellowship with others as brothers and sisters in Christ. I have to be willing to let everyone know of what I believe and what I have gained so that they have the same opportunities. And what do I get in return for this sharing:

“⁴And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” — 1 John 1:4 (ESV)

And there it is, the reward for sharing the joy of the LORD, complete joy for me and you. As I originally read, I see the word “our” in verse four and consider it being meant for John and those around him. As I dig deeper into study, I realize that the word “our” is to be John and those around him, and, the receiver of the letter and sharing. John is sharing Christ to gain joy in the LORD and to ensure that we have the joy of the LORD as well. I have received and have shared in the Christ and therefor I have the complete joy of the LORD just a John and those around him and all of the rest of those of like mind here in the world.

As a follower of Christ, I have the duty to do His will. I have tasks to complete in bringing the gospel to the world. I have to share Him with the world. In doing so, I have brought a smile to the face of God and have been rewarded with complete joy in my heart. I have given joy to others and they to have the joy of the LORD in their lives through my sharing with them. Sharing is indeed caring.

What is your approach to sharing? Are you holding on to Christ for yourself and your personal gain? What if you shared Him with others for complete joy for you and them?

“⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” – 1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV)

Joy in belief of our Lord Jesus Christ. I do not have to see Him to love Him. I do have to see Him to believe in Him. I only have to love and believe in Him. With that, I will be filled with joy. With that love and belief, I have received my salvation. With that love and belief I will receive my reward in heaven.

To often we find ourselves in the mode of “I have to see to believe” and in reality, that is not true. Even while Jesus was in this world, there were those that felt they needed to see to believe. Take the apostle Thomas. He needed to see Jesus for himself to believe that He did rise from the dead.

Jesus does not need to be revealed to me physically for me to believe. I only need to believe that He is real and accept the salvation He has provided for me through His death and resurrection. I do not need to see Him to love Him and do not need to see Him to believe.

My belief reveals my joy. My joy allows me to accept. Jesus lived in this world to experience that which we experience. Jesus died in this world to experience that which we experience. He accepted that death to be the example for us in this world. Jesus rose again to demonstrate that He rules over this world with God. It is in Him that I believe and that belief leads to the joy of knowing all that He is and provides for me in this world and in my home to come, heaven.

I do not need to see Him to love Him. I do not need to see Him to believe in Him. I only need to love and believe to experience the joy He provides.

Where are you looking to find your joy? Are you needing to see to believe? What if you just accepted that you do not need to see and only need to love and believe to experience the joy of the LORD?

I am going to have trials and adversity in my life. And, I should count myself blessed to meet those trials.

“²Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” — James 1:2-3 (ESV)

I know that it is hard to understand that I should have joy with regard to meeting up with trials. I should want for smooth sailing and ease of life as opposed to the difficulty that comes with trials. But, trials is where I am able to get better. One goes to the gym, not to simply walk in, no. One goes to the gym to be challenged to get better. And when coming out of the gym a number of times and seeing the results of that challenge, there is excitement in the results that have come.

The same should be said of the trials that come in life. I should be seeking out trials to experience the growth the getting better. I have to have joy in the fact that I have the opportunity to get better. And after a while of spending the time in the trials of life that I have walked into, I will be able to experience the excitement in the results of growth that came through.

I have to embrace and look forward with joy the trials that are coming to me. Without those trials, I will not have the distinct chance to grow in my faith in God. I need those trials to keep me grounded and moving toward Christ at every turn in my life as opposed to skating by on easy street and trying to find joy in that which has past and will not come again.

How are you progressing through this life? Are you looking to skate by on easy street? What if you embraced the idea of experiencing trials and went into them with the joy of knowing you will have the opportunity to grow in Christ from them?

This morning I am reading in Hebrews as I continue my study of “joy”. I am brought to the passage titled “Sacrifices Pleasing to God” in my ESV bible. I get that I am to be doing that which is pleasing to God, but I forget that I have a responsibility to the leaders as they do for me.

I have needs that are met by the leaders in the church. Those needs may be physical or spiritual and yet the leaders in the church do not discriminate. These leaders will do for those in their care regardless of the need. Yet, they should not have to be doing without feeling the joy of the LORD.

“¹⁷Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” — Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

Leaders should not have to be searching for joy in taking action on my behalf. The joy should be in the action itself as they know that what they are doing is in the name of the LORD and for the good of a brother in Christ. Now, I am not saying that there is not joy in the hearts of our leaders in the church. What I am saying is that we should be making their jobs easier by allowing them to meet with God on our behalf with complete joy for doing so in their hearts and not have to wonder whether there is truth in our actions and declarations. How do I accomplish that.

Well, by obeying them and submitting to their authority. Christ has placed them in this position to lead us in our growth and learning with Him. It is my duty to follow them and take their direction so as to give them the ability to have singular thought and action, bringing glory to the name of God and spread the gospel. I have to remember their role and their tasks and take the pressure off of them to work this singular thought and action. When coming to the leaders, there should be joy in their hearts as they know that I would only be coming in a situation where I was truly in need and not in the instance of wanting to shuck responsibility and ask someone else to take care of things for me.

Leaders should lead and I have to remember that it is my responsibility to follow. My following however should be that which gives them joy as opposed to anxiousness at what is behind them. Leaders should be able to look behind them and see along with feel the love of their brothers and sisters in Christ pushing them along as they go. As they look behind them they should be able to see those that are weary and down and then they will joyfully come to them and help by lifting them up and walking with them through the difficulty.

What is the attitude of those leading you? Are you expecting them to do all of the lifting and you reaping the reward? What if you were to do all of the lifting to give them an easier time and when you need them, they come to you with joy in their heart and lift you up?

How is it that I am to be the example of Christ when there is always an attack on me?

What a selfish approach with the above question. I have the understanding that I am to be the example of Christ and yet I find it “hard” to do with a little adversity. Christ had people wanting to kill Him, something that I really will likely not experience. He was betrayed by those closest to Him. To spread His word, He walked all over the countryside. He was spit on. He found Himself being opposed at every turn. He was dealing with being tricked and trapped every day. For me, where there is some adversity in my life, I largely live free of the same.

If Christ can deal with all of the real adversity and still be the example of love and care for all, shouldn’t I be able to study His word and use His example as the basis of my example. Shouldn’t I be able to imitate Him those that spread the gospel as well. Take Paul for example. In his ministry, Paul experienced adversity that I will likely not experience in my life either. He was imprisoned, and killed for his faith. And yet, even still, he was the example of Christ all along the way. He encouraged and loved all of his Christian brothers and sisters, even though his prospects were bleak. All with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

“⁴For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. ⁶And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 (ESV)

And see the encouragement of those at the Church of Thessalonica. Paul recognized their strength and their acceptance of the gospel from him. And points out their continued imitation of what they learned as they became the examples of Paul and more importantly, Christ. All of their work was made possible with the acceptance and understanding of the joy of the Holy Spirit.

I have to do the same. I may have some adversity in my life (certainly at the moment nothing like Jesus, Paul, or the Thessalonians). Yet I also have the joy of the Holy Spirit to lean on to get me through. I have that joy to keep me delighted throughout my life here in this world and to lead me to my eternal life with Jesus, Paul, the Thessalonians, and all my other brothers and sisters in Christ.

What are you leaning on to get you through the adversity? Are you looking to yourself to get through it all? What if you recognized that you have an example and the joy of the Holy Spirit to guide you?

This morning I am continuing my study of the word “joy” and found myself reading of what appears to be contradictory to what I have studied and been writing for the past few weeks, joy is found in and with God. Yet, this morning I see that Paul counts those Christ followers at the church at Philippi as his joy.

“¹Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” — Philippians 4:1 (ESV)

So I have to ask, is my joy found in others or in God? YES. I know that seems a bit ambiguous and does not answer the question, but it really does. I see that I find my joy in God, and that joy is manifest in the work that I do for and with those of like mind. I look to God to bring me the joy that only he can. The source or cause of delight as Merriam-Webster indicates. God is where I go for my spiritual healing and comfort and joy.

Once I have that joy provided by God, I must be on the lookout for others with the joy of the LORD as well. I have to find them and commune with them. I have to recognize that they are my brothers and sisters in Christ and that they are the source of my physical mortal joy as we work together in service of the Father. We are unified in our goal and approach to the goal, even though out actions to reach the goal are likely very different and based on the talents provided by God to each of us.

So, YES, my joy is found in God and in my brothers and sisters in Christ. I receive the joy of the LORD from Him and then I am able to recognize that joy in those around me. Once it is recognized, it is my task to bring out the best. I have to celebrate others as those that of like mind with me and know that they are, as Paul puts it, “my joy and crown”.

Where is it that joy comes from for you? Are you looking to have joy come from others? What if you find the joy of the LORD from Him and then seek to locate others with it also and unify with those that are of like mind?

I find it interesting in the world today that we are always at odds with one another. Whether that is politically, culturally, socially, or any other “…ally” out there. There seems to be this idea that what is mine is mine and nothing else matters. We are in a constant state of yelling at others to let them know that we are right. Paul writes to the church at Philippi to encourage them to work together in all that they do.

“¹So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ²complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” — Philippians 2:1-3 (ESV)

See the point that Paul is making. The church at Philippi should be of one mind and approach. That is not to say that they should all be the same. Rather, they should use all that they are to accomplish the same things, and those things are spelled out. The church should love and draw that love from Christ. There is no room for selfish gain and continue to move forward as a body, looking to do the work of Christ and be the example of Christ in doing so.

Notice the impact to Paul when this accomplished. His joy will be complete. He will find joy and peace in knowing that the church is advancing the gospel in the name of Christ and with that one goal in mind and using all that God has given them to do so. It is this unification that provides the joy for Paul. He will know that these are brothers and sisters in Christ through their actions and he will meet them in heaven and celebrate the accomplishments with them.

I have to remember that joy is “a source or cause of delight” according to Merriam-Webster Online. Paul finds delight in knowing of the unified approach of the followers of Christ. I have to find that joy as well when following Christ and spreading the gospel. I have to unify with others and use my talents provided by God to impact others as the example of Christ.

What bring you joy? Are you out there seeking your own agenda completion? What if you were to join with others in the goal of spreading the gospel and using your own unique talents to do so?

“²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

This morning is was brought back to this passage in Galatians as Paul identifies what it is to walk by the Spirit. The verses above are what the fruit of the Spirit are all about and how I should be approaching the world around me. I have to live these characteristics in order that I should walk by the Spirit.

But there is more to it than just looking at what I should be doing. I have to look at what I am leaving behind in order to do so. I have to leave all of those things that are of the flesh behind, has I am not able to do both, walk by the Spirit and the flesh. Those things that are of the flesh are the likes of idolatry, sorcery, jealousy, envy, drunkenness, and others that are found in verses 19-21 of the same passage.

I know what may be thought of, can’t I just have a little fun. Well there is a choice to be made between “fun” and joy. Fun is for the moment and joy is sustainable. Fun is something that may be experienced right then, although it will not be there later. I can laugh at the misfortune of others, yet there is misfortune on someone and that is ultimately a negative and the “fun” will only be there while I am laughing.

Joy is there for the long haul. I may not laugh at everything, but I will be able to smile and move forward easily and carry that movement to others. I will be able to lift others up and bring joy and fulfillment to others. There will be a lasting smile from the good feeling and not the here today and gone tomorrow sense that comes with the momentary laughter that comes with those things that are of the flesh.

Joy is internal and deep, whereas fun is on the surface and shallow. Only satisfying the surface creates a continue longing for more of the same. The depth of joy leads to being content in where you are. I have to remember to be content and relish in the joy that comes from the fruit of the Spirit. I am filled with the fruit of the Spirit and will have that joy, not only today but, for the long haul.

What are you seeking? Are you looking to find the moments of fun found in the flesh? What if you sought joy that comes from the fruit of the Spirit that is eternal?

Sorrow is not the end of the story. Too often I believe that the end of the event is in the sorrow caused or experienced. We lose a loved one, we experience a hardship, we recognize struggles in someone, we are placed in an event where there seems to be no winning, and yet, there is almost always more to come and more to experience.

“²²So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” — John 16:22 (ESV)

Jesus is speaking to the disciples here and letting them know that He will soon be leaving them, and then He will return. He is explaining that when He leaves, there will be a sense of despair that will feel as though it will not end. Then, when He returns, there will again be joy in their lives.

I believe the story here to be larger than just in the context of Jesus and the disciples. I will experience despair and then joy later as the event unfolds. I have to push through the despair, knowing that there is joy to be had later. When will later be, known only to God, but later will come. I have to know that sorrow is a part of the process and that God only wants what is ultimately best for me and not just what is best for me in the moment.

I, as man, have a desire for all things to be good all the time and dealing with adversity and despair are felt as the end point. The reality is that it is only a point and there is plenty that came before and there will be that which comes after. I have to deal with the present and let the future come with the expectation that God prevails.

“³⁴Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” — Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

Today is where I have to work and tomorrow will come in due time. I have to know that the sorrow and despair of today are only temporary and likely will lead to joy in the end. I think of death of loved ones and know that in the moment, that day, things are sorrowful. And then there is the realization of joy for that which is “fully” experienced. Lori recently lost her grandfather and where we are sorrowful for losing him, he led a full 100 year life and is no longer dealing with the health problems and pain he was experiencing at the time. The day was tough, yet the tomorrow was joyous.

What are you dwelling on today? Are you hung up on the despair, adversity, or sorrow of the day? What if you look at the sorrow as the today and allow tomorrow to present the joy of the LORD?