Message from Scripture: 9/12/2020

Our message from Scripture today is 1 John 1:4; “We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”

The apostle John is specific about his objective in writing his first letter; he tells us that he has written to increase joy…the joy of the readers of this letter along with his own joy. Jesus described his own life as one of joy. We think of him as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, weeping over the city of Jerusalem. We need to remember he speaks of having joy even in the midst of sorrow. In 1 John, John mentioned some things that can contribute to our joy.

Fellowship is a source of joy for us. When we have fellowship with each other, we share the fellowship we have with God and Christ (1 John 1:3). How can there not be joy when you have a relationship with God, which enables us to have a relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ?

We have joy in that we have forgiveness of sin in Christ (1 John 1:7, 9). Walking in the light, living by the will of God, Christ’s blood continues to cleanse us of our sins. We also have access to the cleansing of Christ when we sin, if we confess our sin to God.

We have joy in knowing God counts us as His children. “See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children — and indeed we are” (1 John 3:1).

Christ came to fill our hearts with joy, a joy that is first and foremost of all a spiritual joy, which is able to offer joy no matter what the external situations of life may be. This kind of joy can carry us through anything we face today. Have a great day today. God bless.

Robert