Your Joy is My Joy

Psalm 44: 17 All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant. 18 Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path. 19 But you crushed us…

God is sovereign over all our pain and sometimes it makes no sense.

Colossians 4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

But God can make sense of it as we use it as an opportunity to display His sufficiency to those who need to catch a glimpse of Him.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 2:12 When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.

The Lord provides these opportunities for displaying his worth.

Mt 25:28 "‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

Our responsibility is to be faithful with God-given opportunities to glorify him.

Colossians 1:24 I am glad when I suffer for you...

Gladness can accompany suffering – even be the result of suffering - when it is endured to God’s glory, with the benefit of his people in mind.

1Th 1:6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

To experience actual joy, of which the holy Spirit is the source, which can be mingled with suffering, is to become an example to others and an encouragement in their faith. Suffering in this way produces joy all around.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?

My joy is attained by bringing about your joy in Christ though we will all suffer.