Now, where did I put my joy...?

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:20

Joy is a fleeting feeling. We take joy in pleasant experiences, personal successes, goals obtained, satisfying relationships, and vicarious victories (insert your favorite sports team here). All those feel good.

But what about when experiences aren’t pleasant? What about when goals are blocked, relationships are strained, and victories are few? What about when we fail?

Jesus challenged his disciples, fresh of a successful short-term missions trip, to find joy. But he challenged them to ground it on a firmer foundation than ministry victories. Jesus said, “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven”.

If you are a follower of Christ, your joy comes not in what you do, but who you are. Or rather who God says you are. And he says you name is written in heaven. That is shorthand for all the security that a forgiven, accepted, adopted, justified, beloved child of the Father can have! There is nothing you can do to make God love you anymore. And there is nothing you can do to make God love you any less.

The joy of success only remains as long as the memory of success. And the sting of failure seems to last forever. Those who are justified by faith shall live (Romans 1:17). Those who are justified by performance will die at every disappointment.

But succeed or fail, if you are united to Christ by faith, your name is written in heaven! And in that is true joy!

The well wisher of your soul’s happiness,
Pastor Tom