True JOY

I used to think the greatest thing was being used by God. I wanted to be used by God! And it is an amazing thing. It is one of the greatest blessings to see God use you to change the life of another for good. However, it is not an end to joy in itself. Sometimes doing ministry, we can get caught up in wanting to be used by God so much, and when we don't see fruits we get discouraged. We sometimes base our relationship with God on whether on not we can see if he's using us.

Being used by God is secondary to the all-surpassing joy of knowing and abiding in Jesus Christ himself. Abide in my word that your joy made be full.

And when we are abiding in Christ and really having intimacy with him, one of the fruits is being used by him to further his kingdom... his word does say seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. and we are to seek first his kingdom. sometimes though, we seek first the experience of being used by God to further his kingdom, rather than his kingdom himself.

It is a blessing though to see one be used by God, especially when one is struggling with their faith. It is a reminder that it is not us, but the Holy Spirit, that does the real work.

True joy can never come from just doing good, but rather, it comes from intimacy with the one who IS good: the one who created you, loves you, and moves you to do good, God!

This intimacy is made possible by Jesus Christ.
Before, there needed to be blood spilled in order for us to enter God's presence because of our sin that separated us, but now we can enter the holy of holies because the veil has been torn, Christ has become our mediator!

Praise his name from whom all blessings flow!

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." - John 15:9-11