BE A JOY AND REFRESHMENT TO OTHERS

BE A JOY AND REFRESHMENT TO OTHERS

By God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. —Romans 15:32

            Let me ask you— Do you know faithful followers of Jesus that bring you joy and refreshment to be in their company? Are you a faithful follower of Jesus that brings joy and refreshment to other faithful followers of Jesus when they are in your company?

            There is great joy and refreshment when we are in the presence of those who are faithful followers of Jesus. It is refreshing as they share their relationship with the Lord and how He is working in and through their lives to impact many others. Yes, this brings great joy and refreshment.  

            There are followers of Jesus who would say it is all about their relationship with Jesus, but they don’t bring joy and refreshment with them. Why? It is because what they say and how they live are contrary to each other. If a follower of Jesus speaks as if they have a strong, mature relationship with the Lord, but there are no works to give evidence, then what kind of a relationship do they really have with Him?

            God’s Word is very clear about this— “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).  What is one reason God has saved you from sin and to a relationship with Him? It is “to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” What are those works God has for you? Are you being faithful in them? This is what will bring joy and refreshment to other believers— your obedience to Jesus! 

            Not only are we to do good works, but Jesus redeemed “us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).  Those who are “zealous for good works” will surely be a joy and refreshment to other faithful followers of Jesus. That will be true as other believers see the evidence in a fellow believer’s life whose faith stirs them on to action (James 2:14-26).   Faith is to act. Faith is to bear evidence. Faith is to be fruitful. Faith in action bears evidence of faith in and obedience to Jesus. That type of faith will bring joy and refreshment to other faithful followers of Jesus. How are we doing?

Dear Father may I bring joy and refreshment to other faithful followers of Jesus by my faith in Jesus being actively and zealously worked out according to Your purposes. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuuZMg6NVeA