The 12 Days of LCC – A Year-End Devotional Series

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Complete Joy -The Twelfth Day of LCC

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept 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. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. – John 15:10-12

The commands of God are not given to oppress us or make us miserable. Perhaps this is not news to you and yet I wonder how many have the opinion of the seventh grader in confirmation class who announced, “I don’t want to affirm my faith as a Christian because then I’ll have to stop having fun!”

Granted, that’s an immature response believing that any joy we can manufacture by our own effort is better than what God has in mind for us. But I suspect there are many of all ages who hold similar convictions that a fully committed Christian life is a burden. It is a life of standing along the wall at the party fearing the disapproving glower of the chaperone should we consider wandering onto the dance floor!

Nothing could be further from the truth. God knows us so well…better than we know ourselves…and his vantage point gives him a flawless (perfect) perspective on what will make our joy complete. And he doesn’t keep it a secret. And he doesn’t keep it a secret that he doesn’t keep it a secret! Jesus speaks again and again and again about what heaven is like, what the father is like, what God commands, what God wants for us. And just in case we don’t understand why he’s telling us all this or are prone to think he’s trying to burden us with a host of restrictions that will make our lives miserable he says…

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

So there’s only one question for you to ponder today…do you believe what Jesus says?

Prayer
Dear Jesus, you have done all, even unto death on a cross, to accomplish what I could never do for myself. Remind me each day that your desire for me is joy, your joy that is mine only when I stop trying to manufacture my own. Amen