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“The Power of Joy and Thanksgiving” No. 8 by Rev. Toru Asai
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17), …
The joy that comes from God is spiritual. Note the way this joy is called in the above scripture—“joy in the Holy Spirit.” Unlike the superficial joy that the world gives, which comes through external sources of excitement, it will never disappear or be taken away from you. Where the kingdom of God is, there is always joy.
People who rejoice always want to share their joy with others. Joy is something that is enjoyed together with other people. This is true not only with humans, but also with angels and God.
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent (Luke 15:5-7).
This joy is typical of heavenly joy. Joy is in heaven, and it is given from above to us on earth.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:10)."
The salvation that has come through Christ is for humanity, not for angels. But these angels, too, are rejoicing so much about it. And it is unfortunate that we are so ignorant about it and have no joy. God chose these shepherds in the field to share this joy with the human world, and the same is true with us who were chosen by God and brought into his kingdom. The kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.’
If joy we receive is from heaven, and it is God who gives such joy to us, there is something important that is required of us. Jesus said:
Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together (John 4:36).
It was Jesus who sowed himself in the ground as a kernel of wheat, and we are the reapers. He did the hard work, and we reap the fruit of what he sowed. And the above words teach us that its purpose is for both the sower and the reaper to be glad together sharing the joy. This joy is given to us who work as reapers. But what if we do not go to the field and reap?
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By Davar Kingdom of GodFor the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17), …
The joy that comes from God is spiritual. Note the way this joy is called in the above scripture—“joy in the Holy Spirit.” Unlike the superficial joy that the world gives, which comes through external sources of excitement, it will never disappear or be taken away from you. Where the kingdom of God is, there is always joy.
People who rejoice always want to share their joy with others. Joy is something that is enjoyed together with other people. This is true not only with humans, but also with angels and God.
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent (Luke 15:5-7).
This joy is typical of heavenly joy. Joy is in heaven, and it is given from above to us on earth.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:10)."
The salvation that has come through Christ is for humanity, not for angels. But these angels, too, are rejoicing so much about it. And it is unfortunate that we are so ignorant about it and have no joy. God chose these shepherds in the field to share this joy with the human world, and the same is true with us who were chosen by God and brought into his kingdom. The kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.’
If joy we receive is from heaven, and it is God who gives such joy to us, there is something important that is required of us. Jesus said:
Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together (John 4:36).
It was Jesus who sowed himself in the ground as a kernel of wheat, and we are the reapers. He did the hard work, and we reap the fruit of what he sowed. And the above words teach us that its purpose is for both the sower and the reaper to be glad together sharing the joy. This joy is given to us who work as reapers. But what if we do not go to the field and reap?