Discover Joy

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).

God knows our deepest needs because He created us. True joy evades us as long as we seek to live our lives and resolve our shortcomings on our own, apart from God's life-changing prescription for spiritual and emotional health. Take a few moments to consider God's path to joy.

The Bible declares, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). It's amazing how many of us choose to compare ourselves to others and vainly attempt to rationalize our sin. Genuine, heartfelt change comes as we honestly evaluate ourselves in light of God's absolute standards of perfect holiness and righteousness. Compared to Him, our self-righteousness and natural goodness are no better than "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). Until we acknowledge this basic truth about our lives, we fail to see ourselves as we really are - which is the first step in discovering true joy.

There is life-changing power in the Bible verse that many of us have known since childhood: "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Too many of us merely "believe" in God and Christ in an intellectual, ineffectual way. Belief doesn't change our lives until we combine it with total trust and dependence on Christ. When we realize that other religions, philosophies, and humanistic therapies fail to change us from the "inside out," we're ready to receive God's forgiveness through Christ.

We need God's forgiveness because our deliberate sins have done more than hurt ourselves or others. They have created a barrier between us and God. When King David prayed for forgiveness he admitted that "Against you [God], you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight" (Psalm 51:4).

Commit your life to Christ, turning away from the self-led direction of your life, replacing self-confidence and efforts with Christ-confidence and simple faith.Jesus promised, "I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24). This is an iron-clad promise direct from the Son of God! When we ask for God's forgiveness through Christ, we acknowledge that Christ paid the penalty that we deserve by dying for us on the cross. The barrier in our relationship with God that we created through our sinful choices disappears the moment we accept what Christ did for us on the cross. When we become a fully devoted follower of Christ, He fills us with His presence and empowers us to live life to the fullest.

The Apostle Paul described this new relationship with Christ by writing, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). When the "I" at the center of our lives is replaced by Christ, joy enters our lives. In the final analysis, true joy is much more than an emotion or passing experience. It's having a personal, growing relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ!

There is so much more that can be said about discovering joy through faith in Christ! If you have additional questions about how you can become a fully devoted follower of Christ, please call our church office at (816) 380-3733. One of our staff members will return your call as soon as possible. You can also send us an email by using the "contact us" option on our main menu.