What is the Reading of Our Joy Meter?

Our power meters tell a story in our homes. In July, our story is likely to show that we ran our air-conditioners all the time, and our power bill will have an uptick. In the fall months, we would likely see a decrease in power and costs. All in all, there are some peak usage months and some low usage months. Once a month, our meters are read to tell the story!

Imagine if we had a “joy meter” attached to our hearts! Maybe on one side of the meter, it would read “no joy” and on the other side, “complete joy.” If we had a joy meter, what would the month reading indicate? Would there be little joy transmitted? Occasional surges? Or would our meter indicate joy all month long?

In being a follower of Jesus Christ, one of the indicators is joy! Jesus actually said this in His promises to the disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:9-12: NIV). Notice specifically the teaching about following Jesus’ commands in love so that “our joy may be complete.”

There is a great deal of gloom and doom in our world today! Jesus actually encountered this gloom with the religious people of His day. He spoke against this joyless life when he said, “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting” (Matthew 6:16; NLT). As disciples of Jesus, we have another choice. We can choose to be filled with joy instead of gloom!

As followers of Jesus, we do not let Covid take our joy away! Or any circumstances zap the joy out of us. Life is too short to allow gloom and misery to win the day!

I am praying your joy is complete today. If you need a jump start to joy, take in a sunrise or a sunset and behold God’s glory! Elevate your blessings and discount your troubles! I pray your “Joy Meter” will have a good reading this month!

Shalom,
Philip