You know that I am the guy who tells you to kick up your heels and enjoy life. I emphasize that “joy” is a fruit of the Holy Spirit right behind “love.” Also, God considered it so important that joy be lived in the Christian life, that He gave believers a whole book emphasizing “joy” and “rejoicing” – Philippians. So, yes, I believe the Christian life is to be a joy-filled life.
Joy needs to be lived in our daily life, but let’s face it life is not just all about one joyful moment after another. You must balance joy with living the Christ-filled life. Above all else, having others see Jesus in you, is of ultimate importance. Living your life, following Jesus’ example, means that Christ will be seen to others through you. This yields a sense of holiness in your life. Robert Murray McCheyne said it best, when he stated: “A holy man is a mighty weapon in the hands of God.” God uses His children that walk close to Him in mighty ways.
The apostle Peter knew well the power of the Spirit-filled life. As spokesman for the early Christian church, he says this about Christians being holy: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior, because it is written, ‘You shall be holy for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:14-16). Two truths stand out in those verses. First, come to grips with known sins in your life, and with the assistance of the Holy Spirit eliminate them from your life. Second, your moment-by-moment daily goal in your life is for you to be “holy.”
Joy is an important lifestyle for you to daily exhibit, but in doing so of greater importance is to get serious with your walk with Jesus to live a “holy” life. It is the “holy” life that God uses in a powerful way, while you are on earth. Start today to be more “holy”!
