Joy in the kingdom of God comes by God’s grace. “For the Kingdom of God does not consist of eating and drinking, but of right conduct, peace and joy, through the Holy Spirit; and whoever in this way devotedly serves Christ, God takes pleasure in him, and men highly commend him.” Romans 14:17-18 WNT
This how we learned what love is: He gave His life for us. We too should give our lives for our fellow Christians. If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his fellow Christian is in need but shuts his heart against him, how can he still be loving God? Children, let us not love only in words or in talk but let us put our love into action and make it real. 1 Jn 3:16-18 AAT
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t brag or get conceited. It isn’t indecent. It isn’t selfish. It doesn’t get angry. It doesn’t plan to hurt anyone. It doesn’t delight in evil but is happy with the truth. It bears everything, believes everything, hopes for everything, endures everything. 1 Cor 13:4-7 AAT
For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. Gal 5:13 HCSB
God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no divisions in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ,t and individual members of it. 1Co 12:24b-37 HCSB
We serve Christ when we love one another in such ways. This brings forth joy, beginning in our homes and extending to those in His church.
When we do works of service, joy wells up in our hearts and in the hearts of the recipients. When we edify one another joy wells up in our hearts and spirits. “So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up [edifies] one another.” Ro 14:19 HCSB
Paul found great joy in those who God put in his care. We can rejoice for similar things we find in one another.
In addition to our comfort, we rejoiced even more over the joy Titus had, because his spirit was refreshed by all of you. 2 Co 7:13b HCSB
I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Php 1:3-4 HCSB
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Php 2:1-2 HCSB
So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me. Phl 2:12-18 HCSB
So then, my brothers, you are dearly loved and longed for — my joy and crown. In this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends. Php 4:1 HCSB
For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy!1Th 2:20 HCSB
To Timothy. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear consciencee as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy, clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also.2Ti 1:3-5 HCSB
To Philemon. I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Phm 1:4-7 HCSB
John wrote.
Though I have many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete. 2Jo 1:12 HCSB
I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3Jo 1:4 HCSB
In Hebrews, we are exhorted: “Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith” (Heb 13:7 HCSB).
We would do well to imitate Paul’s faith. He clearly shows joy does not rely on circumstances.
We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed. But as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything:
- by great endurance, by afflictions,
- by hardship, by difficulties,
- by beatings, by imprisonments,
- by riots, by labors,
- by sleepless nights, by times of hunger,
- by purity, by knowledge,
- by patience, by kindness,
- by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
- by the message of truth,
- by the power of God;
- through weapons of righteousness
- on the right hand and the left,
- through glory and dishonor,
- through slander and good report;
- as deceivers yet true;
- as unknown yet recognized;
- as dying and look — we live;
- as being disciplined yet not killed;
- grieving yet always rejoicing;
- as poor yet enriching many;
- as having nothing yet possessing everything. 2 Co 6:3-10 HCSB
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Heb 13:17 HCSB
Joy in the kingdom of God comes by God’s grace and we walk in Messiah doing what God prepared for us to do.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Eph 2:8-10 NASB