Joy in Christ is the deep, abiding gladness rooted in the believer's relationship with Jesus, transcending circumstances and worldly pleasures (John 15:11). Christian preaching often illustrates this joy as a sustaining light or sunshine that shines through trials, leading to praise and peace not found elsewhere (Romans 15:13). These images emphasize joy's unseen, divine source and its power to transform hardships into triumphs.
Laughter and joy add strength and refreshment to our limited earthly life.
I live in a constant endeavor to fence against the infirmities of ill health, and other evils of life, by mirth. I am persuaded, that every time a man smiles — but much more so when he laughs — it adds something to this fragment of life. Sterne.
Christ's boundless love fills and satisfies the soul beyond earthly capacity.
Surely running-over love—that vast, large, boundless love of Christ—is the only thing I most fain would be in bonds with. He knoweth that I have but little but the love of that love; and thus I shall be happy, suppose I never get another heaven, but only an eternal feasting of that love. But suppose my wishes were poor: he is not poor; Christ, all the seasons of the year, is dropping sweetness. If I had vessels, I might fill them; but my old, riven, and running-out dish, even when I am at the well, can bring little away. Nothing but glory will make tight and fast our leaking and rifty vessels. Alas! I have spilled more of Christ's love, grace, faith, humility, and godly sorrow, than I have brought with me. How little of a sea can a child carry in his hand! As little am I able to take away of my great sea,—my boundless and running-over Christ Jesus.
— Rutherford
The sweetest music symbolizes the soul's joyful welcome into heaven after death.
All good music is sacred if it is heard sacredly; and all poor music is execrably unsacred. The sweetest music is not the peel of marriage-bells, nor tender descants in moonlight woods, nor trumpet-notes of victory: it is the soul's welcome to victory. God grant, that, when we die, there may not come booming to our ear the dreadful sound, "Depart!" but may we hear stealing upon the air the mellow chime of all the celestial bells, saying, "Come, come, come, ye blessed: enter ye into the joy of your Lord." Beecher.
The pleasures of piety bring lasting joy and peace unlike worldly enjoyments.
The pleasures of piety are infinitely more exquisite than those of fashion and of sensual pursuits. They consist in one even tenor of mind, a lightness of heart and sober cheerfulness which none but those who have experienced can conceive; but they leave no sting behind them: they give pleasure on reflection, and will soothe the mind in the distant prospect. And who can say this of the world or its enjoyments? H. K. White.
True joy in Christ shines even in the darkest trials like imprisonment.
When Madame Guyon was imprisoned in the Castle of Vincennes, in 1695, she not only sang, but wrote, songs of praise to her God. "It sometimes seemed to me," she said, "as if I were a little bird whom the Lord had placed in a cage; and that I had nothing now to do but sing. The joy of my heart gave a brightness to the objects around me. The stones of my prison looked in my eyes like rubies. I esteemed them more than all the gaudy brilliancies of a vain world. My heart was full of that joy which thou givest to them that love thee in the midst of their greatest crosses."
A spiritual man rejoices in Christ's kingship and loves zealously in service.
As a spiritual man, the company of Hewitson was very refreshing. He realizes much the privileges of the believer. Love is his favorite theme. "Rejoice evermore" is one of his mottoes. He realizes much the Kingship of Christ. He is full of love to Christ, love to souls, and zeal, carrying him out in abundant labors.
— Sandman
A Christian's joy is universal, embracing creation and the new life in Christ.
Rejoice with a rejoicing universe. Rejoice with the morning stars, and let your adoring spirit march to the music of hymning spheres. Rejoice with the jocund spring in its gush of hope and its dancing glory, with its swinging insect-clouds and its suffusion of multitudinous song; and rejoice with golden autumn, as he rustles his grateful sheaves, and clasps his purple hands, as he breathes his story of fruition, his anthem of promises fulfilled; as he breathes it softly in the morning stillness of ripened fields, or flings it in Zolian sweeps from lavish orchards and from branches tossing bounty into mellow winds. Rejoice with infancy, as it guesses its wondering way into more and more existence, and laughs and carols as the field of pleasant life enlarges on it, and new secrets of delight flow in through fresh and open senses. Rejoice with the second youth of the heaven-born soul, as the revelations of a second birth pour in upon it, and the glories of a new world amaze it. Rejoice with the joyful believer when he sings, "O Lord! I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away; thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation." Rejoice with him whose incredulous ecstasy has alighted on the great gospel-secret; whose eye is beaming as none can beam save that which for the first time beholds the Lamb; whose awe-struck countenance and uplifted hands are evidently exclaiming, "This is my beloved, and this is my friend." Rejoice with saints and angels, as they rejoice in a sight like this. Rejoice with Immanuel, whose soul now sees of its travail. Rejoice with the ever-blessed Three, and with a heaven whose work is joy.
— Dr. J. Hamilton
Every day is a day of rejoicing for the Christian, unlike the sinner's few festival days.
The calendar of the sinner has only a few days in the year marked as festival days; but every day of the Christian's calendar is marked by the hand of God as a day of rejoicing.
True religion brings freedom, love, peace, and power, not bitterness or melancholy.
Religion is not like the prophet's roll, sweet as honey when it was in his mouth, but as bitter as gall in his belly. Religion is no sullen Stoicism, no sour Pharisaism: it does not consist in a few melancholy passions, in some dejected looks or depressions of mind; but it consists in freedom, love, peace, life, and power; the more it comes to be digested into our lives, the more sweet and lovely we shall find it to be. Those spots and wrinkles which corrupt minds think they see in the face of religion are, indeed, nowhere else but in their own deformed and misshapen apprehensions. It is no wonder, when a defiled fancy comes to be the glass, if you have an unlovely reflection. John Smith.
Those who taste true religion long to fully experience its spiritual blessings.
The Gauls, when they had tasted the sweet wine of Italy, asked where the grapes grew, and would never be quiet till they came there. They who taste the sweet wine of true religion, its consolations, &c., will never rest until they come into its full enjoyment. Venning.
The treasures of religion are hidden and increase in value eternally.
In the "green-room" at Dresden, where for centuries the Saxon princes have gathered their gems and treasures, until they have become worth millions of dollars, may be seen a silver egg, a present to one of the Saxon queens, which, when you touch a spring, opens, and reveals a golden yolk. Within this is hid a chicken, whose wing, being pressed, also flies open, disclosing a splendid gold crown studded with jewels. Another secret spring being touched, hidden in the centre is found a magnificent diamond-ring. The treasures of religion are not discovered at the first view; but, when laid open, are found to be greater than any king ever possessed. Their value will appear greater and greater to all eternity.
A world without a sabbath is joyless, like a man without a smile or summer without flowers.
A world without a sabbath would be like a man without a smile, like a summer without flowers, and like a homestead without a garden. It is the joyous day of the whole week. Beecher.
A smile reflects love, cheerfulness, and joy as signs of a welcoming heart.
It is the color which love wears, and cheerfulness and joy, — these three; it is the light in the window of the face, by which the heart signifies to father, husband, or friend that it is at home and waiting. Beecher.
A dying child expresses love for Jesus above all, anticipating His blessing.
A little girl between six and seven years of age, when on her death-bed, seeing her elder sister with a Bible in her hand, requested her to read respecting Christ's blessing little children. The passage having been read, and the book closed, the child said, "How kind! I shall soon go to Jesus; he will soon take me up in his arms, bless me too; no disciple shall keep me away." Her sister kissed her, and said, "Do you love me?" "Yes, my dear," she replied, "but do not be angry, I love Jesus better."
A moment of heavenly joy gave deep assurance of eternal life beyond earthly concerns.
Mr. Flavel, at one time on a journey, set himself to improve his time by meditation; when his mind grew intent, till at length he had such ravishing tastes of heavenly joy, and such full assurance of his interest therein, that he utterly lost the sight and sense of this world and all its concerns, so that he knew not where he was. At last, perceiving himself faint through a great loss of blood from his nose, he alighted from his horse, and sat down at a spring, where he washed and refreshed himself, earnestly desiring, if it were the will of God, that he might there leave the world. His spirits reviving, he finished his journey in the same delightful frame. He passed that night without any sleep, the joy of the Lord still overflowing him, so that he seemed an inhabitant of the other world. After this, a heavenly serenity and sweet peace long continued with him; and for many years he called that day "one of the days of heaven!" and professed that he understood more of the life of heaven by it, than by all the discourses he had heard, or the books he ever read.
A Christian's joy and assurance come from Christ's presence everywhere and forever.
The Wesley?" "No, sir," replied Mr. Whitfield, "I fear not, for he will be so near the throne, and we shall be at such a distance we shall hardly get sight of him."
# TO CHRIST.
Rev. Eustace Carey, from India, relates a pleasing anecdote of a native Christian whom he was called to visit. Inquiring as to the state of her mind, she replied, "Happy! happy! I have Christ here," laying her hand on the Bengalee Bible; "and Christ here," pressing it to her heart; "and Christ there," pointing towards heaven. Happy Christian! to whatever part of the universe she might be removed, the Lord of the universe was with her, and she was secure of his favor. "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon the earth that I desire besides thee. My heart and my flesh faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, greater than earthly joy.
A pious Armenian, calling on Mr. Hamlin, the missionary at Constantinople, remarked that he was astonished to see how the people are waking up to the truth; how, even among the most uncultivated, some are seeking after it as for hid treasure.— "Yes," said he, "it is going forward; it will triumph; but alas! I shall not live to see it. Alas! that I am born an age too soon." "But," said Mr. Hamlin, "do you remember what our Savior said, 'There shall be joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth?' You may not live to see the truth triumphant in this empire; but should you, through divine grace, reach the kingdom of heaven and be with the angels, your joy over your whole nation repentant and redeemed, will be infinitely greater than it could be on earth." He seemed surprised at this thought; but, after examining the various passages to which I referred him, he yielded to the evidence with the most lively expressions of delight, and seemed to be perfectly curaptured at the thought that our interest in the church of Christ and the progress of his kingdom on earth is something which death cannot touch, and which, instead of ceasing with this life, will only be increased and perfected in another. "Oh fool, and slow of heart," said he, "to read the gospel so many times without perceiving such a glorious truth. If this be so, no matter in what age a Christian is born, nor when he dies." # 251. LU
Joyful thoughts of God inspire cheerful church music reflecting heartfelt worship.
When the poet Carpani inquired of his friend Haydn, how it happened that his church music was always so cheerful, the great composer made a most beautiful reply. "I cannot," said he, "make it otherwise, I write according to the thoughts I feel; when I think upon God, my heart is so full of joy that the truly, as he thought, the truth of the vision on Salisbury plain.
A poor woman finds joy and triumph in Christ despite living in a poorhouse.
A lady in England, more than seventy years of age, who had long been known as an "Israelite indeed," was called, in the providence of God, to pass her last days in a poor-house.
She was visited one day by a Wesleyan minister; and while in conversation with her on the comforts, prospects, and rewards of religion, he saw an unusual lustre beaming from her countenance, and the calmness of Christian triumph glistening in her eye. Addressing her by name, he said, "Will you tell me what thought it was that passed through your mind, which was the cause of your appearing so joyful?" The reply of the "old disciple" was, "Oh! sir, I was just thinking what a change it will be from the POOR-HOUSE TO HEAVEN!"
# RIDICULE.
daily persecutions did not sometimes make him ready to give up his profession of attachment to Divine truth, he replied, "No; I recollect that our good minister once said in his sermon, that if we were so foolish as to permit such people to laugh us out of our religion, till at last we dropped into hell, they could not laugh us out again."
A dying boy joyfully called on his heavenly Father, showing assurance of salvation.
A pious little boy, who attended the Sabbath school, a few hours before his death broke out into singing, and sung so loud, as to cause his mother to inquire what he was doing. "I am singing my sister's favorite hymn, mother." "But why, my dear, so loud?" "Why," said he, with peculiar emphasis, "because I am so happy." Just before his death, with uplifted hands, he exclaimed, "Father! Father! take me, Father." His father went to lift him up, when, with a smile, he said, "I did not call you, father; but I was calling to my heavenly Father to take me; I shall soon be with him!" and then expired.
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