Earthly joy arises from possessions. Men think that if they get all they want to have they will be happy, but sooner or later life brings disappointment and hopes are shattered. All that you think will give you joy will prove empty at the last. The Lord Jesus Christ, the living, loving Savior, who dies for sinners, is the only one who can give you joy. But the joy He offers you is not earthly joy. It is His own heavenly joy.
The Holy Ghost, who comes to dwell within us, works in us abundance of righteousness as God’s gift, and that righteousness is the source of our peace and joy. Men struggle hard to become righteous before God and men, but what men call righteousness God calls filthy rags (Isa 64:6). Whether it be Jewish righteousness, or Hindu righteousness, or Buddhist righteousness, or nominal Christian righteousness, God calls it filthy rags. God is ready to give you His righteousness as the free gift of His love. He adds peace to love and multiplies it by eternity. That is His grace!
And to that love and peace He adds joy by the Holy Spirit. But if you let the Holy Spirit of God enter and work in you, you will become righteous with God’s own righteousness, and as a result you will leap with the joy of God, because of the assurance of the Spirit in your heart that you are righteous in God’s sight, and because day by day you will find yourself becoming richer and purer and stronger in Him.
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