Good early Monday morning! We are getting ready to head out early once more. Of course the privilege and duty of writing this devotional must come first. If, as Pastor Rogers points out today, peace is a fruit of righteousness, I wonder if joy might be a product of duty? Certainly doing our duty as Christians is expected through obedience to Christ's commandments. Doing our duty well brings the satisfaction of the good worker. However, Jesus gives us His joy. That's right, gives, not as payment for doing our duty or a good deed, for then we would have earned it, but as a gift.
Jesus also gives us His peace. Does that mean Pastor Rogers is wrong? No, for Jesus first gave us His righteousness as the gift of grace through faith in Him. You might say that we have peace through His righteousness. We also gain His joy from that same source. We do not have to earn joy through good works, though we do gain the satisfaction of the job well done. Regarding our duty, Jesus told us that we should have the attitude of humble servants simply doing our duty. Joy doesn't come from our doing something for Jesus, and it isn't lost, though we may lose touch with it from time to time, when we sin. Jesus gives us grace, peace, joy, his righteousness and His everlasting love through His glorious sacrifice and resurrection; we didn't earn any of it, but received the gifts of God.
Sing a new song of joy this day!
Bucky
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