Check out all the previous Joy readings here.

Joy Reading Plan | Day 2

Prayer

Pause for a minute. Listen to your breath coming in and out. Allow your body and mind to noticeably relax. Say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for something He has provided for you. Ask Him to meet with you today.

Bible Reading: John 15:1-11

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept 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.

Reflection & Questions

Yesterday, we read a psalm that makes clear that joy is found in God’s presence. Today, we move to the words of Jesus in John’s gospel, but what we find is a similar emphasis. Jesus is teaching the disciples, and what is His goal? “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Did you notice that Jesus tells us He has joy? This is such a key part of understanding joy in the Christian life. God is a joyful God. He is serious about smiling! We’re told in scripture that He loves to give us good gifts, that He sings over us, and over and over again He tells us how much He loves us. God is full of joy. This is a very different picture of God to what other religions portray and even what our imaginations might picture God being like.

The goal of Jesus’ teaching is for our joy to be complete in Him. And like in yesterday’s psalm, Jesus said this is found by “remaining” in Him and having His words “remain” in us. We are to “remain” in His love by keeping His commands. We remain in Jesus by staying allegiant to Him day in, day out, in good seasons and dry seasons, in peaceful times and chaotic times. We make Him our source, our provider, our sustainer (“I am the vine you are the branches”).

Jesus wants us to be full of joy. He is full of joy. And He tells us to find our joy in making Him our complete focus.

1. What phrase in these verses of John sticks out to you? Why?
2. Have you pictured God as joyful or something else? What difference does it make to you to know that God is joyful?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?