Joy complete

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed 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. John 15:9-11

Complete joy. Imagine that. That’s what Jesus wants for you. Jesus wants His joy to be in us and for our joy to be complete. We waste time thinking that God wants us to feel bad, heavy, guilty or ashamed. He wants us to remain in His love, and live full of joy.

Joy mixed with doubt or fear isn’t complete joy. Eighty percent joy isn’t complete joy. This concept of “complete” joy comes up half a dozen times in the New Testament. Perhaps it was a saying in their language and culture. Jesus and others expressed the desire for joy to be complete; perhaps we could say, “whole” or “finished” or “total”.

As a father, I love seeing complete joy on my kids. My image of this is them playing and giggling with abandon, free of anything that would hinder or dilute the joy. It is my desire for my kids to have joy without fear.

Jesus told us how we can have complete joy. He made it very clear that it is in His love that we receive His joy. His love, our joy. His love precedes our joy.

Can you remember that spark of joy that came when as a teen you heard that someone ‘likes’ you? The idea that someone has noticed you, chosen you, and is ready to express their affection for you makes you feel pretty special. The idea that the Creator of the universe knows us personally, that He has noticed you and chosen you is so wonderful that it is hard to believe.

I recall a time when in my late teens I had been carrying the weight of the world for a while. I was holding it together on the outside but feeling pretty lost inside. At the right time, my youth pastor said he had something to say that he felt was from God to encourage me. It was simply, “God loves you.” In that moment I received His love again. The burdens were gone. I was overwhelmed with joy.

Receive His love. Consider it. Meditate on it. Let it fill your thoughts. Let that understanding be refreshed in your heart and in your soul.

Your Heavenly Father wants you to receive and remain in His love. And He wants your joy to be complete. His love overcomes fear.

Unconditional. Unfathomable. Unstoppable.

How can you deliberately remain in Jesus’ love today?