I’ve been using the Hamilton Reading Plan to read through the Book in a year. I really like this reading plan because it allows me to focus on just one book from the word instead of splitting my attention to various sections. This month we were able to finish John and there’s just a lot of thoughts that I’ve been putting into my spiritual slow cooker to help my mind and heart understand more of what’s taking place over here.

Jn 13-17 is one of the last discourses that J has with his students before he is taken away. In this final discourse, he covers a variety of themes that will prove crucial for their faith. Whether its about his death and rise, his identity as the way, truth, and life, or the promise of the HS, this is a theological gold mine that pays spiritual dividends for believers today.

I’ve been thinking about Jn 16:22 and how J says that the students will have sorrow now but will see J again and their hearts will rejoice and no one will be able to take away that joy from them. Living on this side of that historical event, this means that current C’s are able to also take part in this inseparable joy. I love how J says that its “your joy” that no one will be able to take. It is this personal quality to joy that stuck out to me and caught my attention as I kept reading.

The next statement about joy that stuck out to me is found in the middle of J’s high priestly prayer. In the middle of this prayer for protection and praise for His sovereign plan, J prays in 17:13 that His joy be fulfilled in his disciples.

So I got a “your joy” and “His joy,” in my reading … so whose joy is it? The answer is obvious and sometimes our minds and hearts need to melt and be humbled over the obvious and the simple and not just the complex truths found in our book.

The personal joy that J speaks on in 16:22 is the same joy J prays for in 17:13.  J’s joy is my joy. Until I recognize that J’s joy and my joy need to be aligned together in complete synchronization, I will continue to go through periods of connecting and disconnecting with our King and Lord.

As much as his joy is full and complete, I only rap that my capacity for his joy would continue to expand and deepen to fully understand that kind of joy in my life. For those who are interested, here’s a helpful article about the relationship between joy and happiness. Enjoy

Some things we miss

  • Mexican food
  • Cheap coffee
  • Clean air

We’re thankful for…

  • Friends and community
  • Plentiful harvest
  • Indoor basketball courts