Joy in Abiding/True joy found through abiding in the True Vine

By Alex Mathew
Posted Tuesday, November 9, 2004

One of the fruits in Abiding is Joy. It is one of the regular characteristic of an abiding Christian. Yet sadly we meet so many Christians who not even recognize this gift. Some of us go chasing Joy and gather in 'happiness'. Pursuit of happiness has become the trademark of our hedonistic universal culture. No nation is exempt from it. Relentless scramble for happiness goes on 24 X 7 dragging the screechy shuffling body for an encounter with pleasurable happenings. The walk for happiness endlessly go on ending up at the doorstep of despair.
It is so different when it comes to Joy in Abiding. It does not come in through our search. It is a gift by virtue of being IN as part of the very source of Joy, the True Vine.
Joy is a robust concept very different from wearing an apologetic ghost of a smile pasted on to a plastic saintly countenance. The joy of the Lord is exuberant and overflowing in the assurance that "goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" That exactly is the glowing attribute of Abiding. We experience an endless flow of blessing in Abiding. In whatever way the blessings in Abiding are blended 'Joy' will invariably be the major ingredient.The Lord Jesus indeed is the True Stock of our abiding Joy.

Q; What is the source of our 'Joy'?