Two-minute read.
Jesus kept His Father’s commands as an act of love, outwardly showing devotion through His actions. We do the same when we abide in Christ’s teachings, following His example, showing the world who we follow. The more we obey God’s commands, the more fruit we will produce, and the more joy we will experience. Having a revelatory Creator, we must practice His precepts to experience His joy. As we discover the goodness that comes from following Jesus, we can’t help but want to share it with others.
When I gave my life back to the Lord as an adult, I didn’t immediately experience His joy. Transformation began when I started to live for God rather than myself. As I began to do what the Creator says, life changed, peace descended, and joy began to thrive. On a mentor’s recommendation, I began reading my Bible daily, front to back. I found a plan and dug into scripture. But about a third of the way through the Old Testament, I stopped reading —not a conscious decision; one morning I didn’t have time, and that quickly turned into two, then three, etc. And I felt myself slipping back into the murky mud of despair.
“How’s your Bible reading going?” my mentor asked me when I shared my thoughts with her.
“Not well, I stopped.”
“Then I’d start there.”
And so I did, I began reading God’s word again, and this time I didn’t stop. Thirty-plus years later, I still read the Bible every morning, spending more time in scripture now than ever. And I haven’t felt those dark feelings again. Each morning, when I place my life before the Savior, allowing Him to search my heart, He renews my soul, comforts my pain, and gives me the strength to persevere.
When we abide in Jesus, He abides in us. Living a life of obedience produces fruit that fills our lives with everlasting joy.
Journal Questions:
What area of disobedience hinders your relationships with God?
How can you abide in Christ today?
In what ways does producing good fruit bring you joy?
Joyful Application:
Show God’s love to the world by obeying His commandments which will produce good fruit and bring you divine joy.
