Bearing Fruit: Joy

Joy.

There's much that could be written about joy. But the Lord took me somewhere very specific with it today.

First, I want you to pause and go read Nehemiah 8:1-12. It's not a long passage, but it's a rich passage of scripture.

"And Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share the gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Son't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" - Nehemiah 8:10

Is anyone else singing the song in your head now, or is it just me?

This is one of those verses that has become so familiar to me, but the context gets lost. I honestly couldn't have told you what was happening in the story around this verse until I opened up Nehemiah today to read it.

But it is such a beautiful story. The people of Israel finally reunited after years and years of exile. As soon as they settle in, they call upon Ezra to bring out the Word of God and have it read to the assembly.

What happens next felt so relatable to me. As the Levites read the Word, the people began to weep. They were cut to the heart with conviction, maybe grateful to the point of tears, or maybe full of repentant sorrow at all the wrongs they had done. We've all been in a church service or two that felt that way, right?

But then the leaders began to encourage them and remind them that this is a day for celebration. In their weakest moment, Nehemiah called the people to lean on the Joy of the Lord for strength.

Despite all the wrongs they had done. Despite all the rebellion. Despite the law that was consistently broken. God still called them back home and unified them as one. And when the Lord watched His children worship Him in total unity, he felt joy. That joy was their strength. That joy is your strength, too.

Of course there is absolutely a time and place for repentance and godly sorrow, but that doesn't last forever. When the Spirit of the Lord takes up His dwelling with you and starts to produce His fruit in you, there is joy.

And it's not simply happiness. It's not just the fleeting feeling. It's a deep joy that has some serious weight behind it. It empowers and it gives strength.

"So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God's words and understood them." - Nehemiah 8:12

Our story here ends with a beautiful acknowledgement of the source of our joy. To hear God's Word and understand it.

Now I want to pause just a second and realize what a miracle this was (and still is). This was before Jesus and before Penetecost. These people didn't have the Holy Spirit living in them to guide them and reveal things to them. God the Father chose to grant them the power of His revelation to understand His Word.

It drew them to repentance and then into a great, deep well of joy.

"But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets." - 1 Corinthians 2:10

I'll end on this: the Word of God still has that power today. And we have the Spirit of God to interpret and reveal the mysteries of God to us. So, if you're wondering why you don't feel this joy of the Lord in your life, and you want to know how to get it, go to His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding and rejoice in the Joy of the Lord.