This week’s podcast is a Guided Lectio Divina Scripture meditation for the third week of Advent focused on joy.

 

Jesus is where we find true and lasting joy.

 

In this passage, Jesus ties our joy to something a bit surprising … obedience. At first glance, this doesn’t feel joyful, does it?

 

That’s because we have a skewed take on the word obedience. We believe obedience is being told to do something we don’t want to do, like cleaning our room or eating our broccoli.

 

But I want to encourage us to look at obedience in relationship to Jesus a little differently. Jesus is 100 percent trustworthy, fully loving, and always good. And Jesus sees all and knows all. This means his call to obedience is always for our good. So, instead of broccoli – it’s like chocolate.

 

The other thing to notice about obedience is it starts with relationship. Jesus invites us to abide, or remain, in him. Obedience flows out of our connection to God.

 

As you meditate on Jesus’s words this week, I pray the Spirit will lead you toward a deeper relationship with him and the true joy we find in Christ.

 

The full meditation passage is as follows:

John 15:7-11, NIV

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 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. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

 

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