PSALM 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

THEME OF THE DAY: ENJOYING THE LORD JESUS. Would we be able to define our Christian experience as an “enjoying of the Lord Jesus”? Or are we often a people just slugging out this thing called the “Christian life” more as a joyless routine? Do we find a daily anticipation swelling within us of meeting the Lord Jesus in real fellowship with Him in His Word and prayer? Or do we find our Bible and prayer time hit and miss more mechanical and dry? And what about church on the Lord’s Day? Do we go with our hearts rising in great expectation and joy knowing we are going to meet the Living God and celebrate Him? Or is church attendance a “have to” weekly thing we endure looking forward to the last amen and benediction more than the opportunity to engage in spiritual fellowship with the Lord and other believers?

Friends, the Christian life is not to be an enduring life but a joy-filled life; even a life enjoying the Lord Jesus. The Westminster Shorter Catechism question one reads, “What is the chief end of man?” And the answer is “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” We readily confess the first part; our chief purpose in life is to glorify God, but are we as quick to quote, and more importantly, live out, the second part –“enjoy Him forever”? Joy and the enjoyment of Him who is our joy, Jesus Christ, is the legacy for Christ’s people and His desire for His people. To live without Christ’s joy and enjoying Him is not only contrary to the will of God but produces two spiritually damaging things in the life of a joyless Christian.

First, to live without joy and lack an enjoying of the Person of Christ hinders our witness to the reality and power of the Gospel. The world all around us is unhappy and lacks joy. Should we not be pursuing, savoring, and walking in the joy of the Lord we are no different from our neighbors, co-workers, and friends who are outside of Christ. One of the most impactful influences we may have on people is our joy in the Lord. It is attractive, magnetic, and opens up doors to share why we are able to live life above tough circumstances. Conversely, the joy-less Christian may have a message of the Gospel but not the testimony of the power of the Gospel. It would be like a cook serving a meal and delivering it to others, but not being a partaker himself. He would not be able to give credible testimony to the quality of the meal served.

Another spiritual consequence of not enjoying the Lord will be a life absorbed with self. Selfishness will rule in the life of a joyless Christian. This will show by how little service is given to others and the lack of encouraging others. When we live in the joy and presence of Christ, self gets shelved. Self gets crucified and the sweet aroma of Christ flows from us to all the people we encounter. Or we could say, “The joy of Jesus spills out our hearts and on to others.” It is not difficult to know we are in the presence of a believer enjoying Jesus and walking in His joy. He or she will be so focused on others and enamored with Christ that we will experience spiritual refreshment just being in their presence.

So, are we enjoying Jesus? The Psalmist in today’s scripture sure was! And what he is experiencing is available to us. All it takes is to commit to seeking Him in Word, prayer, and obedience who is not only our joy, but desires for us to experience Him in the fullness of His joy.

PRAYER: Lord, help me see my walk with You is to be one of spiritual freedom and joy.

REFLECTION: Joy is the Lord’s desire for His people and the hindrance to not knowing it is ourselves.