Strength In Joy

“And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.” -Ezra 6:22

Leonard Ravenhill said, “entertainment is the devils substitute for joy.”  In America, we live in a day that longs for entertainment, and lacks for conviction.  What would it be like, if the thirst for entertainment was transformed into a thirst for joy?  If we dedicated ourselves this year, to seek the Lord, and the joy that he gives?  To be found in him, and in our worship, in our sacrifice, in our praise, in our seeking; in keeping the commandments, abiding in the Vine fellowship; we find something greater than entertainment.  Something greater than amusement or pleasure.  We find joy.   

In the days of Ezra, the children of Israel were exiled in Persia.  Until decree was made that they might go back and rebuild the house of the Lord.  They laid the foundation of the temple and began to work on the house when an adversary came to stop the work.  When it looked like all was lost, Darius searched the records and found that a decree had been made, and such decree was irrefutable.  The work was once again sanctioned by royal decree, with provision and protection given to continue.  The children of God went back to work, keeping the feast of the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread, with joy.  To the Jews, this feast would have been a solemn occasion of worship.  As much as a period of joy and happiness.  It would have been a time of sacrifice and praise, as much as a time of delight and triumph.  The scripture says that the Lord made them joyful.  This joy, with the providence of God, strengthen their hands in the work of the house of the God.  Joy, like love, is a fruit of the Spirit.  Joy is a wonderful benefit to the Christian life though I hesitate to even call it a benefit for fear of it sounding like a byproduct, because it is not a byproduct but a prime product.  It is a fruit of the Spirit, it is the direct effect of the Spirit.  It is our strength, and one of the hallmarks of the Christian life.  The devil is thief, but he is not after our money.  He is not concerned with our personal triumphs.  He wants to steal our joy.  Jesus told us that he is the vine and we to abide in Him, so that our joy might be full.  The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost.  Joy is a powerful motivator, a wonderful ally, and a great guard against the onslaught of Satan.  With joy you shall draw waters out of the wells of salvation.  With joy we work, we serve, we worship, and we walk through this life.  Joy allows us to transcend the natural, and rest in the spiritual. Everyday when we abide in Him our heart cry is:  Joyful, joyful, we adore thee God of Glory, Lord of Love. What may seem dutiful servitude to the outside world, when you have joy in your heart, becomes natural surrender.  Instinctive obedience.  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

The joy of the Lord, and the joy that comes from the Lord is not conditional to earthly things.  Contrary to entertainment, and amusement; we can have joy in the greatest of tribulations as well as the greatest triumphs.  Joy is a powerful motivator.  A strong ally.  As the Word of God says, the joy of the Lord is your strength.