The elusive fruit of joy.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Joy, is a fleeting fruit while we are still on this earth. Here in the above scripture Jesus is looking to the joy AFTER the ridicule, beating, betrayal, and torture of the cross. Jesus hints at the rewards of enduring ridicule and being called evil for His sake.

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!  Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.” Luke 6:22-24

Heaven …where there is everlasting joy and gladness, where the sorrow and sighing will no longer exist. So how do we experience His fruit of joy in the here and now? How do we get to taste that heavenly joy? It comes from the spiritual realm, not from our emotional state. So how do we tap into that Source? Only by the Holy Spirit. It is the fruit of and from Him. (Galatians 5:22-23) Are you asking Him to build your spiritual awareness and sensitivities? Are you seeking to hear Him better? Are you asking Him to show you the spiritual realm? Are you asking Him to take you deeper spiritually?

Spiritual joy isn’t like our emotions of happiness, and warm fuzzies. Spiritual joy has all the qualities of peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control within it. Spiritual joy is a complex fruit with many components. The fruit of joy from the Holy Spirit is like nothing we’ve experienced before here on earth. It is radiant, and bursting with spiritual light! It is set within our spirit by the Holy Spirit Himself. This is why if we want to experience that type of heavenly joy we MUST develop a deep intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, where we have daily conversations together with Him. Where we learn to pray WITH Him, and learn of Jesus’ heart for us in every situation. Are you able to keep Him in the forefront of your mind as you go throughout your day while you are working on all sorts of other things? Do you invite Him into your processes and decisions?

There is only one fruit more complex than joy and that is (agape) love. Agape love includes all the other eight fruit within it. But that’s another topic for another day. Today it is about His joy. Have you asked Him to show you His joy? Have you asked Him if you can experience that kind of joy?

His joy cures us.