What Is My Joy?

This question isn't looking for the Sunday School answer: Jesus.

Yes, Jesus brings joy to my life and I find joy in Him. But the real question is what brings my heart joy on this earth? There is only one word that keeps running through my head over and over again: LOVE.

I'm not talking about any form of romantic love or conditional love. I'm talking about a genuine, unconditional love for others. I love loving. God created me to love and I know that completely. There is nothing that brings me joy the way love does. I was created to love others with all my heart and hold nothing back. I was created to love people regardless of color, size, status, beliefs, etc. My God is a God of love who calls His children to love. I am a child of God and I've been called to love.

In John 15 it says, "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep my commandments you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

It is so clear that God intends for us to find joy in abiding in His love. As a result of abiding in Him, we then are commanded to love one another with the same love Jesus has for us. It is impossible to love like Jesus without abiding in His love and allowing Him to lavish His love on us. I love loving others but some days I find myself so wrapped up in loving others I forget to abide in the love of my Savior. How much stronger my love for others is when I abide in Jesus' love! And it is only when my love for others is an outpour of Jesus' love in me that my joy will be complete. I'm learning to be still and listen and to abide in my Redeemer's love.

I am grateful for this opportunity to love others in Haiti and I pray that it's not my love but Jesus' love in me.