There is a reason that I push so hard on the idea that a believer’s health can be determined by his/her joy in God.  Namely, it is very easy to have affections for God because of what He has done, or what He can do for you.  It is also very easy, after a time of study, to maintain a very solid theology, to have correct thoughts about God, without any joy in Him.  God is not pleased when He is a means for us towards something else, nor is He pleased that we merely learn about Him, but find no joy in what we see.  As much as I love theology as a means to know God, it is very humbling and helpful to remember that Satan has more correct thoughts about God in one moment, than I will in my lifetime.  The difference of course is, Satan knows much about God, does not delight in Him.

You cannot manufacture by works or effort, however hard you try, delight in the person of God.  Now when I say that you cannot manufacture delight in God on your own, and that is true, that doesn’t relieve us of our responsibility to have it.

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 – “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.”

The Bible describes salvation, as a person finding a treasure, and delighting in that treasure greatly.  Matthew 13:44 – “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

“In his joy”, one gives us all that they have, to obtain a greater treasure.  Joy in God is a natural response to seeing the glory of God, and claiming all that He is for us in Jesus Christ as our own, through the cross.  If one does not delight in God, that very absence of delight is sinful.  If that does not make sense, look at the things in your life that you delight in.  The relative worth of a thing in your life can be measured by your delight in it.  That could be TV, money, new clothes, sex, family, or your home.  God is not against those things by any means, but if you can delight in the gifts of God, but not the Giver, how is God glorified?  Moreover, if faith is described as someone finding a treasure in a field, and in their joy selling all they have to obtain it – what does that say about our faith?  Joy is so much a part of saving faith, that in certain places the Bible almost makes joy and faith interchangeable.

2 Corinthians 1:24 – “Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.” 

Philippians 1:25 – “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,” 

Now some of you at this point might be asking yourself the question, “I don’t have joy like this, and if joy can’t be manufactured by my effort, what am I supposed to do?”

I don’t want to leave anyone hanging there, because while God wants us broken before Him, he does not want us to despair.  You cannot manufacture delight, but you can put yourself into the path of delight, where God desires you to be, and with prayer, eagerly ask God for it.  That is our burden.  That is how we can work out our salvation with fear and trembling, yet God is the one truly at work in us, giving us the gift of joy.

Philippians 2:12-13 – “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

We put ourselves in the Word of God, singing songs, surrounded by our Christian brothers and sisters, serving others, getting out into God’s creation, and we pray, we fast, and we wait.

Psalm 40:1-3 – “I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.  He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.” 

Joy may be spontaneous, but it must be pursued.  Joy in God is not a peripheral “nice to have” for a Christian, it is the essence of the gospel.  It is a fight, a fight for joy, and a fight for faith.  The gospel, and authentic faith may be more than just joy in God, but it is not less than that.  I pray for the day that the weight of God’s glory will press into our hearts so deeply, that joy overflows around us, at work, at home, among friends, and in our quiet moments.  I pray for the day when among professing Christians, God is not merely a concept to be known or a means to some other end, but that God is an end unto Himself.  That is my exhortation, for your joy, that you purpose your heart to pursue joy in God.  Be encouraged and hold fast, God may not grant joy immediately, but our Treasure awaits us, and our Treasure is great.

Grace and Peace,
Adam