Tag: complete joy
Appointed to go and bear fruit
Scripture reading for April 25: John 15
“”This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He may give it to you.”” John 15:12-16
Following Jesus is not something that we dream up for ourselves. Jesus taught that no matter how sinful or how noble our lives may have been, coming to Jesus is because of the Father’s mercy in choosing us and drawing us to repentance through His goodness. The ultimate goodness of God is found in His sending of His Only Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us and then to willingly offer His own life, body and blood, for us. This is the greatest act of love ever demonstrated to us as self-centered sinners.
Not only did God appoint us to salvation through His Son Jesus, He also sent us out (“go into all the world”) to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people and nations. (Matthew 28:18-20) This is how we are to ‘bear fruit’ that will remain. These souls will be our ‘treasure’ in heaven. When someone is ‘born again’, they become new creatures in Christ and then possess the gift of eternal life. One of the greatest gifts to His followers is the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray and intercede for those needing salvation. The Holy Spirit directs the gifts needed to produce the fruit that remains–saved souls! The Holy Spirit gives each believer spiritual power to be a witness of Christ. Full joy awaits the believer!
Have you responded to the call of Jesus to inherit eternal life? Has God’s choice of you brought you to repentance and receiving of His Holy Spirit in new birth? Are you obedient to His appointment to go into your world with the precious message of God’s love for each person? Fruit that abides awaits!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for choosing me and desiring all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. I receive Your appointment to go daily into my world and pray for fruit that will remain, souls awakened to eternal life! Your joy is in me as I rejoice in these new eternal believers! Amen.
Crowned with Everlasting Joy!
Scripture reading for August 8th: Isaiah 34-37
Key Scriptures: Isaiah 35:8-10 “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Isaiah saw a highway in the wilderness with a signpost: “Way of Holiness”! He noticed that only the redeemed could walk there as they journeyed to Zion with songs of joy and rejoicing in their hearts and on their lips. The unclean would not have access nor would the wicked or any of the ferocious beasts. As they journeyed towards their heavenly city, joy would overtake them and crown their heads–forever!
Rejoicing in complete joy: “If you obey my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:10-11)
Rejoicing in understanding!
Scripture reading for May 10th: Nehemiah 7-11
Key Scriptures: Nehemiah 8:10-12 “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.” Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.”
Nehemiah had called all God’s people together and had the Word of God read aloud to them. The people had listened attentively and God’s Word brought conviction and cleansing. A great revival was stirred. Nehemiah encouraged the people to celebrate their new-found understanding and to allow the joy of the Lord’s renewed presence to be their strength and confidence!
Rejoicing in understanding through Christ: “For I (Jesus) gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You and they believed that You sent Me.” . .”I am coming to You now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them.” (John 17:8, 13)