November 7

The Fruit Of The Spirit--Joy

I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. — John 15:11 BSB

Joy is something that comes naturally, like the song of a child or the carol of a bird, when certain conditions are met. If we want to experience the joy of Christ, we must meet the conditions He sets. If we are grafted into the true Vine, and if nothing blocks the flow of His love to us—if we obey His commands and avoid what He forbids—then joy will come to us abundantly.

“Abide in Me”—this implies that we are already in Christ. That wasn’t always the case. Once, we were separated from Him, “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, without hope, and without God in the world.” We were like wild vines, cursed and threatened by the axe. But now, by God’s mercy, we have been grafted into the true Vine and have become one with Christ. So when He tells us to “abide” or “remain,” it simply means staying where He has placed us. We are like someone riding in an elevator, remaining in it until we decide to step out. We are on a certain path until we deliberately turn aside. Even as we engage in the duties and cares of life, we remain in Christ unless we consciously turn away from Him through sin or unbelief. When tempted to follow the world’s advice instead of Christ’s, resist it and remain in Him. When tempted to leave the path of His commandments to follow your own desires, reckon yourself dead to those temptations, and you will remain. Whenever you feel jealousy, envy, or hatred rising in your heart, resist those impulses and say, “I choose to remain in God’s love.”

By abiding in Him, you will begin to know His mind and naturally ask for the things His love is eager to give. “Ask what you will.” Remove any barriers to Christ’s indwelling, and His love will overflow in joy, which will remain in you and fill you to the brim.

Prayer

O Lord, the true Vine, I desire to abide in You, so that I may bear much fruit for Your glory and my life may be full of Your joy. Amen.