PSALM 92:4 – For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

THEME OF THE DAY. GOSPEL JOY. Joy is to characterize the Christian life. Christians are not to live “grumpy” lives. We are not to “mope” around with gloomy faces looking as if a smile is a rare or forced occurrence. Nor are Christians to give off the air of negativism complaining about anything or anyone at a moment’s notice. Jesus did not save us to make us miserable Christians clouding our testimony of what He promised would be in His people – His joy. We were miserable sinners and that misery is not for us to carry over into the new life He has given us in His Son. Settle into these words of our Lord, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11); “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:20-24); “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13). Jesus refers to “joy” seven times in seven verses. If we add the associated word “rejoice”, the count moves up to nine. Joy is what God has provided, wants, and even expects to be characterizing His people. Why? At least two reasons.

First, walking in joy distinguishes us from the world. Christians who are regularly experiencing the joy of the Lord live above circumstances and show the people around them the difference being a Christian makes in a joyless world.

Another reason why the Lord has provided, wants, and even expects us to be a people of joy is because it validates the work of the Gospel in our lives. Joyless Christians mirror joyless unbelievers. To not walk in Christ’s joy is to not walk in Gospel freedom. And that leads us to today’s scripture and how we may walk in Gospel joy.

The Psalmist is praying, and, in his praying, he isn’t asking God for anything. He is proclaiming “Gospel Joy” to his God. How? Ponder his words – “For you, O LORD, have made me glad by Your work.” Christian gladness is another way of expressing joy. And what caused this joy in the Psalmist? God’s work. Think with me of the two greatest works our God has done; creation of the world and new birth in the dead sinner. As spring finally arrives, take a walk and marvel over the power of God in creation. Your walk will turn into a walk of praise. But then think about spiritual new birth. This display of the power of God in the human heart is greater than creation. He takes dead and rebellious sinners and re-creates them by His work; the work of the Gospel. The result is joy, but here is the catch. God grants Gospel joy to those who do what the Psalmist did; remember God’s work. I see so many joyless Christians and there are only two reasons for such joyless living; undealt with sin and a failure to meditate on the Gospel. If we are joyless, and it isn’t because of undealt with sin, get alone and meditate on the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-10 is a good place to start). Make this a regular habit of thinking on the Gospel, or better yet, preaching the Gospel to yourself and Gospel joy will be a consistent part of your life.

Friends, God has provided, wants, and expects us to walk in His joy. We can, if we learn to think on His work; His Gospel work in us that always leads to Gospel joy.

PRAYER: “Lord, teach me to meditate on Your gospel that is the source of my happiness.”

QUOTE: “God has done the work in His Son to make us glad. Now we do the work of pondering it.”