By Jim Churchwell
Pastor, New Life Community Fellowship
” This Joy that I have the world didn’t give it to me. The world didn’t give it, and the world can’t take it away.”
These words from an African American hymn speak a truth so profound and yet so lacking in many hearts and lives today. Many have lost their joy of life and living. When you look at faces in stores, on the streets, and even in some churches—where are the smiles? Where is the joy?Oh, we may smile momentarily at the clerk in the store or the person we pass on the street, but where are the smiles when we are by ourselves? Why are most faces fixed without a smile?Genuine smiles reveal the joy of the heart and life—the joy that comes from a personal love relationship with Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Did you ever sing, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so?” I believe the theology of this children’s song to be true. Jesus loves me! Jesus loves you! If this is true, then joy should permeate our hearts and daily lives.This is the joy that the world didn’t give us. This is the joy that the world cannot take away, unless, we let it. It is true that the world—the enemy—will try to steal your joy. The enemy will come and accuse you of being rotten, no-good, a failure and unworthy to claim the name of Jesus. But remember, the enemy is an accuser of the brethren.He will attack you when you least expect it. He will come to you when you are working, playing, and even while you are worshipping. He will whisper trash in your ear and he will try to convince you that it is God who is speaking to you. But, remember, he is a liar, a deceiver, and he seeks to undermine our faith.How can you have this joy that the world cannot take away? Know Jesus! I read this somewhere, “No Jesus, No Life. Know Jesus, Know Eternal Life.” To know Him is to have joy—real joy that the world cannot take from you.”And you now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you.” (John 16:22). Jesus told them that when they saw Him again—after His resurrection—their hearts would rejoice and their joy would be secure.Here is the simple truth: focus on Jesus and have real joy. When you let the joy of Jesus break out of your heart, it will show on your face and in your life. When you have the joy of Jesus we have nothing to prove or nothing to lose. He is our joy. He is our life.
Has the world stolen your joy? Look at your face right now. Are you smiling? Is joy overflowing your heart right now because of your faith in Jesus? He is our source of joy!Friends, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Take your Bible and search out the “joy” references. Let the Lord restore the joy that the world has stolen. “Rejoice! For the Kingdom of God is Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Discover what so few know and what so many need. Joy!
