Searching For Real Joy

By Katie Hershberger

September 1, 2009

Romans 5:8-11: But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also find joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Happiness fluctuates because it has for its source the good times of life, whereas joy, in the Holy Ghost, is present in the gloomiest of circumstances. By the grace of God, we have joy. Jesus is the joy of our salvation.

Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Joy is given to us by God. It is a Heavenly gift that can not be taken away. It is not dependent on external conditions, but rather upon internal possessions. We have grace, peace, blessed assurance, and fellowship with God Almighty through our Great Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are saints of the most high God. We have access to the very throne room of God through the blood of the Lord Jesus. We have the ever-abiding indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus: our Savior, our Redeemer, our Joy, our best Friend.

The world cannot give joy. The world offers superficial happiness that renders a person empty inside. This world did not give us joy, and the world cannot take it away.

Romans 14:17: For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Faith in Christ implants that joy--the joy that can see in the midst of a trial and say: "I have hope! My sins are forgiven!" All things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.

1 Peter 1:7-8: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious then of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

The world does not understand; the ungodly will never understand, for they have no peace, no fulfillment in their lives. They search for joy in their careers and from the things that they buy. These things are temporal fleeting moments of happiness and then, the emptiness remains. What good is a mansion when your heart longs for lasting peace?

The world searches for joy-- they want contentment but they search for joy in all the wrong places. Joy is only given to those who have received Christ as their Savior. He is the one who gives us joy. Joy is found by reading the bible and understanding what it means, and loving our Father. There is no one no where on this earth that can give us the kind of joy and love that He can. He will bless us abundantly, and we will know we have peace and joy by Him.

Peter said, concerning Jesus, in Acts 2:28: Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

Hebrews 12:2: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Lord Jesus had joy in knowing that He would redeem us by His sacrificial death upon the cross. The Blessed Savior--praise His name forever! He has given us the joy that the world cannot take away. The material things of this world are temporal indeed. We cannot take them with us when we die, but the things of God-- the treasures of Heaven--are eternal. They last forever.

When we remember the love of God, how that He loved us with such great love; how God the Father gave His only begotten Son to die for us and to rise again that we might have everlasting life, then how can we not have joy? Our names are written in the Lamb's book of life. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

We believe God's Holy word. We know that we shall reign with Christ Jesus forever. We know that our sins are forgiven and washed away. We know that every promise of God is true. We know that life here on earth is as a drop of vapor. We know that we have riches in heaven; our life is hid in Him. We are citizens of heaven and our names are written in the palm of His hand. There is so much to be joyful about!

Psalm 16:11: Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasure for evermore.

Jesus is the joy of our salvation. He will be King forever and we shall reign with Him. Let that sink in for a minute. He is the giver of Eternal Life. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. We are to look to Him always.

Keywords: amish, amish voice, christian living, katie hershberger, map ministry, mission to amish people