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1st August 2024
ThursdayReflection
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'Sharing Bread' comments on
joy
"that your joy may be complete"
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"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete"
.... John 15:11 (NIV)
Does anybody out there besides me like the ring of the two words - complete joy?
How simply divine does that sound?
Where or where can the fullness of soul satisfying joy be found?
It is found by constantly looking in the face of Jesus - throwing off the hindrances and continually ridding ourselves of sin, armed with a thankful heart, we can run the joy race with our eyes fixed upon Him.
Isn't that exactly what the writer of Hebrews tells us?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
.... Heb. 12:1-2 (NIV)
Joy is abundantly wonderful in and of itself, but complete joy is in a league of its own!
Certainly that would be a priceless commodity in our day and age of anxiety ridden gloom and doom!
I don't know about you, but Jesus' Words grab my attention!
His purpose in His life exhibited as well as in His teachings was to give us life effervescent not simply a life of joyless existence:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
.... John 10:10 (NIV)
Our Lord desires for our lives to be overflowing not constricted - full of joyful life - and He is clear how we are to go about it - through seeing Him in all things and through fruitful obedience, showing ourselves to be His - as we will always live what we believe.
"See God in everything, and God will calm and colour all that thou doest see!
It may be that the circumstances of our sorrows will not be removed, their condition will remain unchanged; but if Christ, as Lord and Master of our life, is brought into our grief and gloom, 'He will compass us about with songs of deliverance.'
Jesus tells us to remain in His love through obeying His Word just as He remained in His Father's love by obeying His commands - even the most difficult ones.
We are never more like our Saviour than when we are obedient in the hard things in life.
It's really easy to find myriads of excuses to bail.
The world doesn't care; indeed it seems to even condone poor choices.
When we make a commitment to God - a vow of faithfulness, it would behove us to be brave enough to let it age and not abort despite the hardship faced.
We are told by the writer of Hebrews that our Lord Jesus faced even His most difficult trial with joy as He looked forward to what the obedience to that trial would produce - both returning to His rightful eternal throne and bringing many sons to glory.
He is our supreme Model.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
.... Heb 12:2 (NIV)
Jesus' joy is perfect joy - not lacking anything.
"Complete" in our verse for today is translated from the wonderful Greek word "Pleroo" meaning full, to fill; as a net with fish, as a house with a perfumed smell; to fill completely and fully."
Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible - New Testament Lexical Aids.
What an inducement from our Lord to make the believer aim at eminent holiness in their lives.
When Jesus fills, He overflows.
Surely, fullness of joy is found in Jesus.
I am reminded of John the Baptists words when he was talking about the Saviour to his disciples:
To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less."
.... John 3:27-30 (NIV)
Interesting side note - the root word for "Joy" is the same root word for "Grace" - "Chairo"- "that which causes joy, pleasure, that which creates delight in the recipient; thankfulness, gratitude, favours done without expectation of return."
"All is grace because of Christ alone." Ann Voskamp
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This is an edited version.
The full article is avaiable on request
About Us
Sharing Bread is a ministry led by a single family.
The entire thing was started by Beth (the grandmother), and its values are lived out in the lives of the entire family.
It's connected, it's dynamic, and it's super rare.
We believe that one person growing up in Christ will transform an entire family.
The family cultivated four primary spiritual disciplines: reading God's Word, prayer, memorizing scripture, and mentorship.
Contact the Rector
The Revd.
Nic.Edwards
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BUGBROOKE,
Northampton,
NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 - 815496
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Contact the Benefice Office
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