JOY IS HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

Acts 13:25b
[Paul is speaking, quoting John the Baptist] " 'I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.' "

John was a man who knew who he was and probably more importantly, who he was not: "I am not that one... whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." This was a statement from a man who had known Jesus since they both were in their mother's wombs yet was still excited to be in the Lord's presence (Luke 1:41, "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb").

John also understood his role, which he describes in John 1:28-30, "I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him. The bride [the church] belongs to the bridegroom [Jesus]. The friend [John] who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine..." John knew the sound of real achievement and acknowledgment, and it wasn't from people, it was the joy of hearing the Lord's voice.

Do you know when true joy is experienced? It is not when we receive something from the Lord and it isn't when we do something for Him; it is when we hear the voice of the Lord. If you are waiting for a new job, a new car, or a nicer spouse before you are joyful, be careful because you are on the road to disaster. If you need to teach a bible study, lead a small group, or go on a mission trip before you find joy, you will probably be disappointed. John knew the secret to not just a sprinkling of joy from time to time, but a life full of joy -- it was in hearing the voice of the Lord.

So how do we hear the voice of the Lord? We open our Bibles -- we read, we study, and we memorize Scripture. We contemplate, analyze and apply the Lord's Word. We allow it to take up residency within us, so when something happens: a car rear ends us or a loved one is ill, the Lord's voice springs from our heart to our head. If we spend time with the Lord, reading His Word and listening for His voice our joy will be fulfilled, in every circumstance. Are you joyful today? What about yesterday? Is your joy fulfilled in hearing the Lord's voice or are you pursuing something else that once achieved will give you joy? Joy is simple if we allow it to be. How do you need to simplify your life and your ability to experience true joy?



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