Next Step #19

Hi Everyone! (Sorry this is two days late!!!—Saturday and Sunday were PACKED—with good things!)

As you may recall from the last couple of next steps, we’re investing some time in investigating the “FRUIT” of the Spirit.  The Apostle Paul writes the following in

Galatians 5:22-23:

     ²²But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

The second trait in the fruit of the Spirit is JOY! Joy and Happiness are often seen as synonyms, but there’s a major difference. Happiness comes from the same root as happenstance.  Happiness is an external trait that comes from being in a good situation.   When the Steelers win, those of us in western Pennsylvania experience happiness. When we have the opportunity to eat our favorite food, we may feel happy. But chance the circumstances and happiness turns to sadness, or anger, or any of a multitude of no so enjoyable emotions. Joy is different.  Joy is INTERNAL. Joy is the abiding sense that all is well, even when the circumstances aren’t. The Apostle Paul told the Philippian Christians that they were to REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS. That kind of reality only comes when the Holy Spirit is resident in our lives.  When the Holy Spirit fills and guides us we can experience negative circumstances and still know that God’s in charge and thus rejoice or maintain our joy.  Happiness comes and go in our lives. Joy abides or remains—as long as we put God first, and live in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Why not take some time right now, to ask God to fill you anew with the Holy Spirit, and to renew your joy, and then let that joy abide throughout the evening and throughout the week!