By John Ogden Sr
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:9-11, KJV).
As we meet people from all walks of life and all nationalities, there is a key ingredient that we all look for — joy. Jesus shares this thought in these scriptures. The condition of true joy is contained in our relationship with Jesus Christ. He encourages us to continue in His love and to abide in that love. As we go through life, we struggle with the things of this world. There are days when we feel good about our relationships and the things we have accomplished, and there are days when we don’t feel so good.
The condition of the joy of Christ is one where we continue to abide in Him. This relationship is not based on good or bad days but on a commitment to follow Him on good and bad days. We know that we can have peace in the midst of a storm. Our joy is not based on the circumstances around us; but on the condition of our hearts within us. Allowing Christ to take residence in our hearts and the abiding faith to always look to Him will bring this joy. Joy is not an outside job; but an inside job. Therefore, as you walk through the struggles of life, I want to remind you and encourage you always to abide in Him and allow the Prince of Peace to reign in your life, which produces supernatural joy.