Jesus Prays for You
“But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” John 17:13-14
Yes, the world may hate you because you are not part of the world. Just speak openly what God says about homosexuality and you will see how the world hates you. Yet we still have joy in Christ. Jesus says His joy is fulfilled in us.
Nehemiah said to the people, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) Jesus gives us HIS joy. We can see how strong that is when we read Hebrews 12:2: “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The joy that was set before Him, namely the joy of fulfilling His Father’s will and accomplishing our salvation, was so great that He was able to endure the pain and shame of the cross for us. With that joy of Christ in your heart you will receive incredible strength to withstand the wiles of the devil and the temptations of the world.
It is the joy of being loved and accepted by God, the joy of God’s grace and forgiveness, the joy of eternal life. Such joy gives the strength to endure any and every sorrow and trial in this life as we serve the Lord with gladness, awaiting our eternal home with Him. There is so much joy in having a life with God that the apostles even rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” (Acts 5:41)
Lord, You have said Your joy is fulfilled in us through the “things that you speak in the world.” May Your Word dwell in our hearts that our joy may be full. Amen.