The further along I go in my walk with Christ, the greater I am aware of the pervasiveness of my sin and the sin in the world.  In 1 john 2:15-16 we are told – “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”  Now, everything in our culture is set in a framework to arouse the sin in us to do exactly what 1 John 2 tells us not to – namely to love the world, to desire sexual immorality, to desire material possessions, and to be boastful in ourselves.  Simply put, everything in the world is set up by the “god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4), satan, to try to suppress the love of God and deprive you of joy in Him.

As Christians, we cannot sit back and hope that society will set up for us a framework for joy in God, it will never happen.  The world, being fallen and broken, will never be redeemed to the point where culture and society lifts up the manifest perfections of God for our joy.  Therefore, God has called us to this task individually, and as the Church body to encourage one another to set up in our minds means of pursuing joy in God.  This requires intentional action on our part.  In this task, we become co-laborers with the Holy Spirit in us as God has ordained in Philippians 2:12-13.  In Colossians 3:1-3 we are exhorted – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  Here, I have specifically in view that we should set our minds on the things above, not on things that are on earth.  The wisdom of God in salvation and all things should provide and answer to our anxieties over suffering and trials.  The love of God extended to us in Jesus for our sins and throughout eternity and His perfect judgment, is a sufficient answer for the wrongs that are done to us in this life.  The neverending massiveness of God in perfection is a greater prize than anything the world could offer, and we have been brought to God in righteousness through our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is very difficult to be overwhelmed by temptation from the world when exercising the means of pursuing joy in God that we have available.  

Psalm 37:4 says to “delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  Consider the various perfections of God revealed through His Creation, through His Word, through the Church and prayerfully pursue joy in God, and God will grant you that joy.  This has to be an active task in your life, because if you do not frame your mind to be pursuing joy in God in these things, everything else in the world will seek to frame your joy in the world.  If you are faithful to pursue God in this way, God will honor your faithfulness with an ever increasing measure of joy in Him.  You will see God in deeper, more joy-producing ways that you did not before.  As you do this, be faithful to encourage one another in the ways you have found joy in God, so that they can also be built up.  If there was ever a prescription for joy, God has given it to us through His Word above.  My hope and prayer is that our joy would be made complete, the joy that is promised by God from His Word, and God is faithful to fulfill His promises. 

Grace and Peace,
Adam