Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isa. 12:3).
It is this that made the future of Christianity," said Matthew Arnold: "its gladness, not its sorrow, its drawing from the spiritual world a source of joy so abundant that it ran over upon the material world and transfigured it."
Some contemporary described the secret of Dwight L. Moody's ministry in these words: "Moody was simply bubbling over with the glory of his message. He reveled in it. His joy was contagious. Men leaped out of the darkness into light and lived a Christian life from that hour."
The early believers received the word with joy (1 Thess. 1:16). It was for the joy set before Him that our Savior endured the cross (Heb. 13:17). And we are to serve God with joy and not with grief (Heb. 13:17). "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" (James 1:2). In spite of trials we look forward to 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" (1 Peter 1:8).
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). We are to pray with joy (Phil. 1:4). In fact, the kingdom of God itself is joy (Rom. 14:17). There is an old song that says, "Joy, joy, joy, there'll be joy by and by," but God's children are to have joy here and now. Wherever we are and whatever comes to us, it is our privilege to be joyful in the Lord (Isa. 61:10). Water from the wells of salvation is a joyous drink. How could one find salvation and not be happy? Through faith Christ dwells in the heart. The burden of sin is gone, and the witness of the Spirit declares that we are the children of God, that heaven is our home.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Restore unto me the joy if thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit" (Ps. 51:12).
It is this that made the future of Christianity," said Matthew Arnold: "its gladness, not its sorrow, its drawing from the spiritual world a source of joy so abundant that it ran over upon the material world and transfigured it."
Some contemporary described the secret of Dwight L. Moody's ministry in these words: "Moody was simply bubbling over with the glory of his message. He reveled in it. His joy was contagious. Men leaped out of the darkness into light and lived a Christian life from that hour."
The early believers received the word with joy (1 Thess. 1:16). It was for the joy set before Him that our Savior endured the cross (Heb. 13:17). And we are to serve God with joy and not with grief (Heb. 13:17). "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" (James 1:2). In spite of trials we look forward to 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" (1 Peter 1:8).
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). We are to pray with joy (Phil. 1:4). In fact, the kingdom of God itself is joy (Rom. 14:17). There is an old song that says, "Joy, joy, joy, there'll be joy by and by," but God's children are to have joy here and now. Wherever we are and whatever comes to us, it is our privilege to be joyful in the Lord (Isa. 61:10). Water from the wells of salvation is a joyous drink. How could one find salvation and not be happy? Through faith Christ dwells in the heart. The burden of sin is gone, and the witness of the Spirit declares that we are the children of God, that heaven is our home.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Restore unto me the joy if thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit" (Ps. 51:12).
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