Day 359, December 25 Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today's Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): 1John, 2John, 3John
Keep or Renew Your Joy
Merry Christmas! When most of us think of this holiday, we think about Christmas lights, trees, wreaths, other decorations, presents, the joyous season of giving, cookies and other goodies, food, and gathering together with family and friends. Whew! Lots of memories.
For most people, Christmas is a time of joy; for others, however, it's not. How do we keep our joy all year long, or how do we recover the joy which we have lost or never had? In today's Bible reading, the Apostle John's three letters offer us some help.
John wrote in the introduction to his first letter,
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full 1 John 1:3-4 (NKJV).Joy—peace, gladness, and ultimate satisfaction—is found in a personal relationship with Jesus. John is writing primarily to Christians. Do we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, so that we can say with John and his companions, “truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ”? (1John 1:4, NKJV). John and his companions saw Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. To have true joy in our hearts, we must believe he sacrificed himself for us and arose from the dead for the forgiveness of our sins. He did this to restore us to God our creator (more...). If we have this relationship with him, how do we keep our joy beyond the Christmas season?
Walk in the Light
We need to “walk in the light as He [Jesus Christ] is in the light” (John 1:7). What does that mean? Negatively, it means we don't walk around in the darkness of sin, lies, and self-deception. Positively, it means we walk by the truth of God’s Word (obey him) and maintain our fellowship with Christ and other believers.
If we do sin (and all people, including Christians, do sin (Romans 3:23,24; 1 John 1:7-9), then we promptly confess it in true remorse as soon as we realize it. If we do confess our wickedness and turn to God from our sins, we receive forgiveness from him and continue to live in the light.
If we want to maintain our joy, we must continue to live in the light of Jesus Christ's truth and righteousness.
Beware of the world's temptations
John writes to fathers (those who are mature in their spiritual life), young men (those who are strong to fight against Satan, the evil one) and children (those who are immature believers),
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever (1John 2:15-17, NIV).No matter how mature we might be, it is difficult to avoid materialism and pride, especially at Christmas. But the temporary joy of receiving new things or the pride of having the best of everything doesn't last. Satan is our enemy and will try to trip us up. His goal is to ruin our relationship with the Lord and spoil our joy.
We need to find our joy in doing the will of the Lord.
Don' let false teachers steal your joy
Apostasy is false teaching which leads us away from the truth. We must come to know the truth so well that we can immediately recognize errors—there are many cults which draw people away from true Christian doctrine by deceptive teaching.
- They deny the truth.
- They deny Jesus is God who became human to die for our sins in our place. He did this so we can have spiritual life.
- They deny Jesus rose again from the dead.
- They deny total faith placed in Jesus Christ is the only thing necessary for salvation.
When we are drawn away by their false teaching, we lose our joy. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10, NASB).
Some false teachers are kind, popular, or gifted. Like an over-abundance of Christmas candy offered to a child, the new truths they proclaim seem sweet but leave us sick to our stomachs when we find out they are all lies. If we want to know Jesus and attain the abundant life he offers, then we must live in the truth found in God’s Word.
Last, if we want our joy to remain, John says we need to actively love people, and especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (1John 4:7-12, NIV).
Its Christmas—let's show some Christian love to people today. We can give a hug, speak words of encouragement, give a gift, spend some time with them, or do something kind for them (from The Five Love Languages by Gary Smalley).
Discussion
Where is real joy found?
Who or what are threats to our joy?
What are some ways we can express our love and joy at
Christmas or other times of the year?
Focus Verse
3 John 1:3 (NIV) “It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.”
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to mtbiblestudies@gmail.com
Looking Ahead: Tomorrow we will be reviewing the old year and getting ready for the new. What will the future hold? If the Lord were to review our life or church, what would he say? Join us for our Next Lesson—Revelation and Review.
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