Flippin Joy!

“And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” 1 John 1:4 NIV

THE WRITER OF first John is one of Jesus’ closest friends, even called the “beloved disciple.”  He heard Jesus speak, saw him with his own eyes, touched him and spent time physically with him—but this did not complete his joy.

Just knowing Jesus wasn’t enough for him.

Sometimes we wonder why the joy Jesus said we would have just doesn’t seem present in our life. Could it be because this joy is not intended as a personal well, but an overflowing, communal spring?

John wrote this letter to his Christian brothers and sisters to complete his joy. His joy was complete only when sharing Jesus with others, and the joy he possessed he shared. Some think we only talk of Jesus to non-Christians, and when that’s finished there are weightier matters of the faith to converse with Christians about. But Jesus is the source of our joy.

Philippians 2:1-3 NIV
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, [2] then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. [3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

John 15:10-11 NIV
“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”