“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on me, that I should be called a child of God!” – 1 John 3:1

Recently, I heard 2 different pastors (Both men I love and respect) preaching sermons where the subject of Joy was addressed. It challenged me to take a deeper look into New Testament joy. What are the kinds of things that bring about our joy or cause us to rejoice as Christians?

In both treatments, the message leaned into the point that Christian joy is not primarily for us as individual Christ-followers.

In one message the preacher thrust his index finger towards the congregants and shouted, “The joy is not about you! It’s not about you! It’s about serving others!”

In the other sermon, the preacher taught that our joy should be prioritized by the acronym J.O.Y. – joy should be for Jesus first, Others second and You last.

In the current “me first”, “all about me”, self-serving culture we live in, this redirection to focus on honoring others seems more than warranted. Clearly, when we prioritize “Me”, we devalue others and end up in an un-loving, narcissistic society.

But, I think there is another side to this that we cannot lose sight of. Prioritizing others doesn’t mean that we are not God’s priority in His sight. The Father is certainly passionate for loving Jesus, His son. Yet, Jesus, as our example, was willing to empty himself of His power and prestige to humbly become a simple man, not to be served but to serve His creation. He actually took joy in that. (Matthew 20:28 & Mark 10:45)

Paul wrote describing the joy of Jesus he experienced by serving others in Philippians 2:17-18, “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.” A mutual joy is experienced in Christian service.

At the same time, what drew me into God’s kingdom was the undeniable fact that God loves ME! His love is focused on each and every one of us as individuals. He came to rescue, redeem and restore ME! Thank you, God!

There are tons of scriptures making clear that God’s love and passion is for us as individuals to restore a lost relationship with each individual and that we are to rejoice in this central purpose of salvation. Some examples:

• John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
• John 14:23 – “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
• John 10:10 – “The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life–life in all its fullness.” Good News Translation
• Ephesians 3:16-19 – “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
• Romans 5:6-7 – “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.”
• 1 John 3:1 – “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that I/we should be called a child/children of God!”
• Isaiah 44:22 – “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
• Lamentations 3:57 – “You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.” You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life.”

Sorry, but Initially from God’s Perspective it is “All” About Me

I would argue that initially it is all about me – God’s unique creation. Jesus came to rescue me! So, that I may reconnect with my creator in a living, breathing, active and even interactive relationship. One element of the Fruit of the Spirit is Joy so it would likewise be an integral part of my experience with Jesus.

I often get the impression that sermon messages to the Christian body seem to hurdle over the importance of experiencing joy in our relationship with Jesus, to getting right to the work of bringing others to Jesus – saving Souls. Why are we doing that if not for inviting others into a relationship that we have ourselves experienced and enjoyed?

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s, The Lord of the Rings, the Orcs of Mordor were the foot-soldiers of Sauron. They would rise up out of the primordial slime to then do their Lord’s bidding. There was no real life in them. No real relationship with their creator. Is that what we are saved to? Just to gather up more Orcs? That’s not what I signed up for.

All Christ-followers go through a maturing process as we are molded into the likeness of Jesus. So, it occurs to me that our experience of Joy and that which we may rejoice in is also a part of that maturation process.

4 Broad Categories of our Maturity in Christ

The way I see it, the process as I enjoy my deepening relationship with Christ, is that the food I eat is first milk and then as I grow my diet is more meat. As I mature further I adopt the John-the-Baptist posture – “He must increase, but I must decrease,” or more of Jesus and less of me. As our relationship deepens even further I may be called to embrace what Jesus declared: You simply are unable to live out my full ministry unless you forsake all else and carry your cross.

Below are the details that decribe my thoughts on these 4 levels of a Follower’s maturation in Christ. (Granted, these maturity levels described are crude and far too linear for how God really works in each individual’s life)

1. New Creation (Babes in Christ):
   • John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
   • 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 – “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal.”
   • Milk is food that others have digested and then fed to you. It is a nutrient-rich, opaque white liquid primarily for feeding the young. Easier to digest.
2. Growing – (Full Age):
   • Hebrews 5:13-14 – “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
   • Meat is that which we have acquired, prepared to injest and digested as we feed ourselves. Harder to digest.

• It Seems That Even Jesus Matured Spiritually:
  • Luke 2:52 – “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
  • Matthew 13:54-56 – “When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? . . . Where then did this Man get all these things?”
  • John 7:5 – “For even His brothers did not believe in Him.”

3. Further Maturing – (Increasing in Jesus):
   • John 3:29-30 – “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
4. Apostolic Disciplship – (Forsaking All Else):
   • This level of discipleship is what distinguishes the original and modern day apostles from other disciples – foresaking all else and making serving Jesus their sole focus in life. These disciples are designated as God’s first appointment for the church. Not all are called to this dedication and fewer answer the call. God rewards these apostles with particular power.
     • Luke 14:27, 33 – “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple . . .33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. (The LSV Bible says, “So, then, everyone of you who does not take leave of all that he himself has, is not able to be My disciple.” The Greek for cannot is dynatai, meaning powerless or unable. This is not a rejection by Jesus but a recognition of what it takes to live out the full ministry of Jesus.)
     • 1 Corinthians 12:28-29, “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?”
     • 2 Corinthians 12:12, “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.”

Rest assured that wherever you land on the above spectrum, you have been saved and God is continuing to pour out His love upon you. Even if living life as an “Apostle” He always beckons all to draw closer and to continue to step out further in faith and trust in Him. (Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”)

So, what does our maturity in Christ have to do with our JOY as Christ-followers? As we mature in our faith and the dynamic is less of me and more of Jesus/others, where does that leave us in experiencing joy in our life? Is that part of our sacrifice that we completely lose ourselves and become void of joy in our life? Was that the example Jesus provided for us?

My Next Post

I will be digging further into the examples of Joy and Rejoicing in the New Testament. What are the sources of our Joy and the reasons for our rejoicing? Is it that the source of our joy lines up with how we mature in our relationship with Jesus; truly experiencing the fullness of the Joy of the Lord?

Peronal Challenge: Am I experiencing that fullness of Joy in my own walk with Jesus?