These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. – John 15:11
Recently, a blogger known for shows on cooking reported that her studies show most people in 2024 America don’t cook, at least not to the extent they used to. She sought out reasons and found that the problem is generally with the recipes. They are either too vague or too detailed. Ingredient lists are too expansive, and there are no suggestions for substitutions. Following the instructions takes too long, and pictures often look too perfect. Lastly, she noted that some would-be cooks found some recipes seem too easy to be true.
Pastor and teacher Adrian Rogers wrote a “Recipe for Joy.” He said, “Joy is the birthright of the child of God. Every child of God ought to have conscious joy… conspicuous joy…continuous joy… [and] contagious joy.” The ingredients for joy include an absolute dependence on the Lord, an abiding restfulness in God’s love for you, and your ultimate surrender to the Holy Spirit’s leading in every circumstance. Pastor Rogers said, “We are to abide in Him, we are to rest in Him, we are to draw our strength from Him, we are to be totally, totally committed to Jesus Christ—and that is joy!”
The complete, fulfilling joy that Jesus offers is His own joy! This joy grows from your relationship as a branch abiding in the Vine (John 15:1-11). Abiding in Him, doing what He instructs you to do, and following His lead brings you into a holy identity with Him as He calls you friend (verse 15). When you follow the Lord’s “recipe,” complete and fulfilling joy will result.
Today’s Verse: John 15:11
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: John 15:12-17
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
