“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Mt. 13:44)

Joy is comparable to gladness, cheer, and delight. Different sources of joy are available but three in particular catch our attention: Jesus, His church, and Heaven. When Jesus arrived, the wise men had “exceedingly great joy” (Mt. 2:1-11). This great joy was announced by the angel of the Lord to the shepherds at the birth of Christ (Lk. 2:8-20). Though sorrow would accompany the crucifixion of Jesus, joy was soon to come by His resurrection and ascension (Jn. 16:20-24; Mt. 28:1-8; Lk. 24:50-53).

Not long after Christ’s ascension, His church was birthed on Earth (Acts 1-2). What cause for joy there is in finding the one, and only, church of Christ (Mt. 13:44; Eph. 1:22-23, 4:4)! The Ethiopian eunuch exemplified the joy of becoming a member of the Lord’s church (Acts 8:26-39). Such joy is an indicator of the joy that awaits the faithful.

Christ endured the cross because He was looking forward to the joy that would follow (Heb. 12:1-2). We can look forward to that same joy because of what Christ did for everyone! That is not to say that everyone will have that joy because not everyone will obey Christ. The five and two talent servants were faithful to their lord and were able to enter into his joy (Mt. 25:14-23). The one talent servant was not faithful and was described as wicked, lazy, and unprofitable. There was no joy for him (Mt. 25:24-30).

Christians should be the most joyful people there are. We have so much to be joyful about including Christ, his church, and a home with God in Heaven. Let us make our joy full (cf. 1 Jn. 1:1-4; 3 Jn. 4)!

Trent Thrasher

“15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Pt. 1:15-16)

Holy, holy, holy is the refrain of the seraphim in Isaiah 6:3 with regard to the God of Heaven. Holiness describes being set apart from the common or profane (cf. Ezek. 22:26). God is above all and is to be given the utmost reverence for holy is His very name (Ps. 111:9). The second person of the Godhead, the only begotten Son of God, is holy (Lk. 1:35, 2:23; Acts 3:14, 4:27). The third person of the Godhead is called the Holy Spirit (Mt. 1:18; Acts 5:3-4).

God requires that each of us be holy because He is holy. Each member of the church is part of the holy priesthood. This shows the responsibility we have to offer acceptable sacrifices to God (1 Pt. 2:5). Tragedy comes to those who do not (cf. Lev. 10). We are a holy nation that has been called out of the world of wickedness (1 Pt. 2:9). Tragedy comes to those who go back to the pigpen of sin (cf. 2 Pt. 2:20-22). We are those that dedicate our hearts to God making sure He controls all in our lives (1 Pt. 3:15). Tragedy comes when God is rejected from His rightful position (cf. Rm. 1:20-32).

The material world that captures so much attention and time is temporary (2 Cor. 4:18). It will be burned up when Christ returns (2 Pt. 3:10). What is our reaction? We practice holy living, we keep our eyes on the goal, and we keep on growing (2 Pt. 3:11-18). God is holy and so must we be!

Trent Thrasher