Dear Church of the Open Bible,
Thank you for your prayers these days, as I speak to just over 30 teens at Pine Ridge Bible Camp in northern Saskatchewan. We have a few more flies and mosquitoes out here, but it’s been a good week of connection and communicating the gospel. I’m joined in serving by Glen and Laureen Sandin (from COB), and several others from churches in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Many of the teens here this week come to have fun and to escape the monotony of home life. They enjoy certain activities, food, people, but when those are lacking, so too is their joy. It can be tough when our joy is so tightly wrapped up in circumstances and things.
Joy is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, along with love, which we looked at last week. This kind of joy is to delight in God for who He is and not what He gives us. When we have joy that comes from a secure relationship with Him, we will be more emotionally stable. This is what Jesus promised His disciples before He died.
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. - John 16:22
Does joy characterize your life today? Or better yet, would you describe the joy you have as joy that can be taken away? Because the joy we are promised is far superior than any other happiness. It is joy in a death-defying relationship. Joy that is not bound to what’s going on around us. It’s the joy of a relationship with the resurrected Lord. May we be characterized by His joy this week.