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The daily devotionals this month were inspired by Charles Spurgeon's book The Fullness of Joy.
Monday 7-2-01
MADE TO REJOICE
Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. - Genesis 2:8
God created the Garden of Eden as a place where man could continually rejoice as long as he remained obedient. Man was created to be happy, not distressed. All that God created in the Garden; the flowers, the birds, the rivers, the gold and onyx; was for man's pleasure and delight. It is so easy to get caught up in our work, even the work of our ministries, that we do not take time to delight ourselves in the pleasures that God has given us. Take time today to breathe in the perfume of a flower, listen to the birds sing, feel a warm breeze against your face, stroke the velvety fur of a kitten, or watch the sun glitter like diamonds across the ocean.
For further study: Exodus 31:15
Tuesday 7-3-01
THE WORD PRODUCES JOY
"These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy may be full." - John 15:11(KJV)
Hebrews 1 tells us that in the past God spoke through the prophets, but in these last days he speaks to us through His son Jesus Christ. Spurgeon says, "all that Jesus spoke in the past and all that He speaks today through His word is meant to produce joy in His people." All that Jesus speaks is truth and that truth was meant to produce joy in God's children. And it does produce joy in us when we respond to that truth through action: bringing our thoughts and beliefs in line with God's word and then acting upon those new beliefs. Bring more joy into your life by believing God's truth.
For further study: John 17:17
Wednesday 7-4-01
IGNORANCE OBSTRUCTS JOY
"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." - John 8:32
Some would say ignorance is bliss - pure happiness. But the Bible tells us knowing and applying the truth brings happiness. Spurgeon says, "Ignorance often hides from us many wells of delight of which we might otherwise drink." Drinking from the wells of God's love, the glory of God's redemption, the completeness of His forgiveness, the eternalness of His faithfulness, and the gift of His graciousness is pure happiness. Pray for a thirst that can only be quenched by God's wells of delight.
For further study: Isaiah 5:13
Thursday 7-5-01
HOPE THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES
For everything that was written in the past was written...so that...we might have hope. - Romans 15:4
All of God's word is good and meant to produce joy in our lives. Spurgeon says, "There is nothing that Jesus says to us by way of warning that does not guard us against sorrow, conduct us away from danger, and point us to the path of safety." Also, the scriptures reveal to us God's relationship with His people and this knowledge is a comfort in the hearts of believers. We must take the study of the scriptures seriously, for as Spurgeon says the "diligent students of the Word...will find...good reason to rejoice in the Lord in all circumstances."
For further study: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Friday 7-6-01
TRUE JOY
"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit..." - John 15:2
These words from Jesus are meant to cause each receiver of these words to stop and question whether their life is bearing the fruit of one who abides in the vine. If you are not abiding in the vine - through regular study of the word, and through prayer - you are not likely to be bearing fruit or at least fruit that is worth picking. One of King David's heart cries was "Search me oh God." Do you want to be searched by the light of God's word or would you rather hide from it? God's light shines gently into the heart of believers, but it will not shine where it is not wanted.
For further study: Psalm 139:23-24
Monday 7-9-01
SPIRITUAL FRUIT
"For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."
- John 17:19
The knowledge that we are bearing fruit for God's glory is a source of joy to the believer. Christ laid down His life for us that we might be sanctified, set apart to be fruit bearers for the King of kings. God, the Master Gardner, cuts off the branches in us that do not bear His fruit. Spurgeon says, "It gives me no joy to know that I have to endure the knife of correction and affliction." But God would not have us glorying in false joy. God wants His children to know true joy, not a counterfeit. Joy worth having requires us to have branches pruned and weeds pulled. Welcome God to tend your spiritual garden.
For further study: Isaiah 5:1-4
Tuesday 7-10-01
THE JOY OF HUMILITY
"No branch can bear fruit by itself..." - John 15:4
In the Valley of Humiliation grows the flower of joy. To know that without Christ you can do nothing is to come to a place of complete dependence on Him. When we are totally dependent on Christ, the power of His Holy Spirit rests on us in greater measure, and subsequently with greater measure we are surer than ever before that there is nothing good in us except Him. For as Spurgeon says, "He that is down need fear no fall, he that is low no pride; he that is humble ever shall have God to be his guide."
For further study: 2 Corinthians 12:9
Wednesday 7-11-01
THE JOY OF GOD'S PROMISES
"If you remain in me and my words remains in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." - John 15:7
Jesus spoke His truth to us that His joy might remain in us. With knowing and living and abiding in God's truth comes great promises. If you are discouraged or depressed, or feeling that the life has run out of you, go to God's word and let Him fill you up with His glorious promises. "Do not let Him speak in vain" (Spurgeon). Cling only to the hope that God lays out before us in the scriptures, and then release everything else into His capable care.
For further study: Hebrews 10:23
Thursday 7-12-01
THE JOY OF PRECEPTS
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. - Psalm 19:8
"Every precept in God's word is a signpost pointing out the road to joy" (Spurgeon). Then why do we resist so! All of God's word is for our greater good and for His glory. If God's word directs us away from something, it is to keep us from danger. If His word directs us towards something, it is for our welfare that we do it. There is no exception to this rule. I have never known a man whose goal it was to be miserable. On the contrary, everyone I know, I'm sure would say they want to be happy. Then why, even if we use our human wisdom, are we not more willing to follow God's signposts to the road of joy? God's word is right and true and if we follow it, we will find His joy.
For further study: Psalm 19:7-11
Friday 7-13-01
THE JOY OF PLEASING GOD
"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit..." - John 15:8
There is great pleasure in knowing that God loves us, and will never leave us. But there is also great joy in knowing that God is pleased with us because of our obedience. A little child who wants to please his father receives pleasure in just knowing that his father is pleased with his behavior. It is no different for the child of God. The reciprocal pleasure that we experience in our relationship with God is one of the great joys of the Christian walk.
For further study: Zephaniah 3:17
Monday 7-16-01
NO PLEASURE, NO JOY
My conscience is clear...1 Corinthians 4:4
If it is true that obedience brings joy, then it is also true that disobedience dissipates joy. Though God loves me and will never leave me, He cannot always rejoice in me because the attitude of my heart and the overflow of my speech and behavior are not always pleasing to Him. When this is the case, we can be sure we will not be experiencing God's reciprocal pleasure. Bring your heart, mind, words and deeds in line with God's word and experience God's pleasure again.
For further study: 2 Corinthians 10:5
Tuesday 7-17-01
THE JOY IN ABIDING
"Now remain in my love." - John 15:9
To abide continually in Christ, is that the delight of your heart? Are you discouraged when something comes between you and your time with the Lord? If you feel that you must be as closely connected with the Lord as a bee is to its hive, as a hen is to its chicks, as an ant is to its colony, then the Lord is certainly pleased with you. Fervent love for the Lord is a delight to Him, and is the source of joy that causes our cup to overflow.
For further study: Revelation 3:14-16
Wednesday 7-18-01
THE JOY OF BEARING FRUIT
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples." - John 8:31
God is glorified when we hold to the teachings of His Son and bear much fruit. Whatever our lot in life, God enables us to bring forth fruit that is pleasing to Him. If you are poor, are you able to give thanks in all circumstances? If you are rich, are you using your wealth to support the poor? If you are sickly, does your life pour forth the fruit of endurance and patience? If you are strong in health, do you exert yourself for the kingdom of God? "You have received so much from Him; are you yielding an adequate return to Him? It is little enough when your effort is what we call very much, but how tiny it is when it is small in our own estimation!" (Spurgeon) Pray God would increase His harvest of spiritual fruit through you.
For further study: Luke 21:1-4
Thursday 7-19-01
THE JOY OF KEEPING HIS COMMANDS
Earth has nothing I desire besides you. - Psalm 73:25
It is the person who desires nothing but to please God and to know Him when He lays his head on his pillow at night, sleeps sweetly. When he awakens, he has the sound of heavenly music playing in his heart. The trials of life do not choke out the joy of the Lord, but rather the trials of life grow that person into maturity, bringing forth even more fruit of joy.
For further study: James 1:2-4
Friday 7-20-01
THE JOY OF LOVING ONE ANOTHER
"Love each other as I have loved you." - John 15:12
Oh, if we would all be like Paul who considered himself to be the least of Christ's apostles. Paul had a lot to think highly of in himself, but by God's grace he was able to put it all in proper perspective. He recognized that the only thing he had to glory in was knowing Jesus Christ and Him crucified. How easily we find fault with our siblings in Christ. How easily we consider ourselves to be better than others. Loving others begins in the mind, where our thoughts grow up into actions. Ask God today to purify your thoughts when it comes to thinking of other people.
For further study: Isaiah 66:2
Monday 7-23-01
CHRIST'S JOY IS OUR JOY
"I seek not to please myself but him who sent me." - John 5:30
The joy of Christ is this: that the son abides in His Father's love and that His Father loves us with that same love. Christ's pleasure, Christ's passion is to please His Father and thus abide in His love. For the Christian there is no greater joy than to know that the eternal God loves them just like He loves His son, infinitely and eternally. That joy is truly Christ's joy.
For further study: John 16:27, 20:17
Tuesday 7-24-01
THE JOY OF FRIENDSHIP
"I have called you friends" - John 15:15
To be a friend of Jesus, what does this mean? Jesus does not treat us like servants. He treats us like friends because He has made known to us everything He has learned from His Father. That is a very different relationship than a servant and his master. After all, whom do you confide in? Most confide only in those we feel closest to. We confide in those we trust, in those we love. Yet, Jesus says that He calls us friends because He has shared with us that kind of knowledge about His Father. The kind you would only share with a close friend. Rejoice because "You are beloved of the Lord and a friend of the Son of God." (Spurgeon)
For further study: Revelation 3:14-16
Wednesday 7-25-01
THE JOY OF GLORIFYING GOD
"Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you." - John 17:1
Jesus gloried in glorifying His Father. Jesus brought glory to His Father by doing everything He asked Him to do. What a joy it was for Jesus to know that He had completed His Father's work. Do you get satisfaction from completing your work? How much more is this satisfaction when it is the work of God that we are doing and completing? Like the stone that covered His tomb, Christ rolled away the load of human sin and guilt, satisfied the demands of the law and released the power of grace that would be available to all who had faith in the Son of God. As you labor and toil in your place in life, give thanks to God that Christ completed the work He was sent to do and as a result you are free from the penalty of sin and death.
For further study: 2 Corinthians 5:21
Thursday 7-26-01
THE JOY OF TRIALS
Jesus...who for the joy set before him endured the cross... - Hebrews 12:2
Christ took delight in all the work of His Father, even the most difficult, the work of the cross. Jesus tells us too, to take up our cross daily and follow Him. The work of God is not always easy, but it always produces joy. Paul explained it best when he said consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials because trials test our faith and develop perseverance in us, and perseverance makes us mature and able to stand firmly on the word and promises of God without wavering (Paraphrase of James 1:2.) Pray that as you face the trials of life they would develop in you a faith that remains solid.
For further study: James 1:2-4
Friday 7-27-01
LASTING JOY
On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem... - Zechariah 14:8
The joy of Christ is not a feeling that is here today and gone tomorrow. It is a lasting condition of the heart for those who abide in Christ because it is a wellspring that is fed from the eternal River of Life. Our human circumstances may ebb and flow, happiness today, sorrow tomorrow. Life has a way of changing without a moments notice, and yet the joy of the Lord is anchored on the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ, who is immoveable, unshakeable, and steadfast for all eternity. Give thanks everyday for the lasting joy that is yours through Christ.
For further study: Psalm 27:5-6
Monday 7-30-01
A FULFILLING JOY
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods. - Psalm 63:5
Christ's joy in us is not only steadfast it is satisfying. David compared his satisfaction in the Lord as one whose appetite had been satisfied with the finest foods. That's why Spurgeon rightly says that when we are satisfied in the Lord, when we know the joy of His salvation, "The pleasures of this world lose all their former charm." All the other desires in us that "once roamed abroad" are now tamed and corralled and no longer lead us astray. When we are right with God through Christ, nothing else entices us and nothing else lures us because all we desire is the Bread of Life.
For further study: Jeremiah 15:16
Tuesday 7-31-01
THE FULLNESS OF JOY
In thy presence is fullness of joy...Psalm 16:11
Even when Job lost all his oxen, donkeys, camels, sheep, and servants to his enemies and then all 10 of his children to a natural disaster, Job could say, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1: 21.) Even when his trials continued he said, "I know my redeemer lives" (Job 19:25.) Job could say these things because he knew he was in a right relationship with the Lord. He also knew that the Lord was sovereign and worthy to be praised. Despite our hardships and trials, God is still on his throne and we are still his own. Take joy and comfort in God and who He is and not in your circumstances.
For further study: 1 Peter 5:10-11
Wednesday 8-1-01
THE INTIMACY OF JOY
She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet...Luke 10:39
"Beloved, come close to your Lord. I delight to come very near to Him. To touch the hem of His garment is enough for sinners, but it is not enough for saints. We want to sit at His feet with Mary and to lay our heads upon His bosom as John did" (Spurgeon). For those who love the Lord, there is always great excitement and anticipation about spending time with Him. Like a young woman infatuated with her groom to be, we gaze upon the beauty of Christ and long for the time when we will be united with Him at the wedding feast of the Lamb. We are totally enthralled with our Prince, the One who has captured our hearts for all eternity. We desire nothing else except to be with Him. We never tire of Him and we exert all our energies to please Him.
For further study: Song of Solomon 2:4, 4:9-10
Thursday 8-2-01
THE GOSPEL OF JOY
This grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ...Ephesians 3:8
It was Paul's joy to preach the Gospel to the Jews and Gentiles alike. Paul was like a man traveling from town to town with a treasure box filled to overflowing for anyone who would reach out and take this treasure for his or her own. For "the Gospel is a source of joy to all who really hear it and accept it, for it's very name means 'glad tidings of good things'" (Spurgeon). Christ makes the offer of "good things" to all, but sadly so few actually receive the riches that God gives us through Christ. How my heart grieves for those who do not reach out and take the wealth that Christ has freely offered them. Consider today whether you are rich or poor in the things of God. Either way, reach out and take and see that the Lord is good.
For further study: Psalm 34:8
Friday 8-3-01
WITHOUT JOY
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere...Psalm 84:10
"How I wish that everyone reading this knew my dear Lord and Master!" (Spurgeon). As the psalmist said, there is no better place on earth than in relationship with Jesus Christ. It is better to be poor and wretched and blind by the world's standards and to know Christ, than to not know Him and to sit in high places with the rich and famous. There just is no comparison. If you have not given your heart to Jesus Christ, I pray that God would have mercy on you and save you, drawing you with cords of love to trust in Him and to be His forever.
For further study: Acts 2:38-39
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Copyright © 2001 Jean and Alan LeStourgeon
