“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23.
“Here is held out the very thing for which we are to labor: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love.’ If we have the love of Christ in our souls it will be a natural consequence for us to have all the other graces—joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; and ‘against such there is no law.’ The law of God does not condemn and hold in bondage those who have these graces, because they are obeying the requirements of the law of God. They are law keepers, and . . . are not under the bondage of the law. . . .” In Heavenly Places, pg. 244
In our previous devotional we learned that we are to keep the commandments (law of God) just as Jesus kept His Father’s commandments (John 15:10). James 2:12 calls it “the law of liberty.”
“The Spirit that reveals, also works in him the fruits of righteousness. Christ is in him, ‘a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ [John 4:14.] He is a branch of the True Vine, and bears rich clusters of fruit to the glory of God. What is the character of the fruit borne?—The fruit of the Spirit is “love,” not hatred; “joy,” not discontent and mourning; “peace,” not irritation, anxiety, and manufactured trials. It is “long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” [Galatians 5:22, 23.] Gospel Workers, pg. 287
Have you ever felt such joy and peace as only Jesus can give? In Luke 6:23 Jesus said we are to rejoice and leap for joy, for our reward is in heaven. I remember years ago when Elder Glen Coon was teaching the ABCs of Prayer. We are to ask and believe and claim the promise even before the answer is realized. That is submission to God’s will. He taught regarding this text the act of literally rejoicing and leaping for joy even when you don’t feel joyful. He said it would do wonders for you. My father decided to try it one time and he said there was just something about taking God at His word and leaping for joy, that before his feet returned to the ground his despondency left him—he experienced real joy.
Jesus wants us to experience the joy of Christ. He said in John 15:11 “Theses things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” He also told us to ask and we would receive and our joy be full (John 16:24). Jesus said there is also joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7).
My Father, May I experience the same joy that is experienced in heaven over my repentance. Help me to practice the joy of Jesus today.
