John 15:1-11
Key Verse: “If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:10-11 CSB)
In John 15, Jesus uses the imagery of a garden to describe what it means to be in a close relationship with Him. Like a branch must remain connected to the vine to find its nourishment and life, so we too must remain connected to Jesus to experience the deeper life that He has for us through the Holy Spirit. All that the Spirit desires to grow in our lives comes not through our efforts, but rather through humble dependence upon Him as we remain connected to Jesus the Vine.
This includes the fruit of joy. The joy of knowing Jesus and His work of salvation in our hearts is not something that we can just manufacture in ourselves. It’s not a result of simply trying harder to be more joyful. The joy that we can experience is Christ’s joy that flows into us. His joy becomes our joy as we abide and remain in Him.
Jesus’s desire for us is that we would experience His full measure of joy at all times in every circumstance. He said, “I have told you these things so my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” (v.11). The joy that is flowing from Jesus is not lacking in any way. There is a full measure of joy always available to us.
One of the interesting connections though that Jesus makes with joy is obedience. In the preceding verse, He says, “If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” The way we abide and remain connected to Jesus is through obedience. Just as His relationship with His Father was marked by obedience, our relationship with Him must be as well.
The connection between joy and obedience is this: We can’t have one without the other. There is no joy without obedience. If we choose to walk in a path that is outside of God’s will for us, we hinder or block the flow of His joy into our hearts. Sin is like having a leak in a tire on a bicycle or automobile. If it is left unaddressed, it will eventually deplete our joy completely and hinder our ability to make further progress in our walk with Jesus. Instead, the path of joy is found in keeping Christ’s commands and aligning every area of our lives with His will. Joy comes through obedience.
Are there some points of disobedience in your life that you have not yet addressed? If so, confess those things to Him today. Turn back to the Lord and choose to walk in obedience to Him. As you do, His joy will become your joy, and your joy will be complete.
Prayer: Jesus, in you is a full measure of joy that I can experience. Help me today by your Spirit to stay closely connected to you. Reveal to me any areas of disobedience in my life that are hindering the flow of your joy in me. I humbly turn to you again today with a heart ready to follow you completely. Amen.
