“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”(Galatians 5:22-24)

Love is the highest virtue of the fruitful life. Paul said, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.” (Rom. 5:5) Jesus reminded us of the imperative of love: By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) Love, agape love, always puts the needs of others before self. Agape love sees what people can be rather than what they are. Agape love is the proof of your Christianity.

Joy is the evidence of God’s presence in your life. Christian joy is a feeling of wholeness based on spiritual realities, a deep-down sense of well being that abides in the heart of a person who knows “God and I” are alright. Christian joy is the deep, settled peace that comes to live within your heart when you make Jesus Lord of your life. Joy is God’s gift to believers!

Joy comes when you let Christ live his life through you. Jesus said “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) Joy is different from happiness. Bible mentions "joy" or "rejoicing" 330 times. But it only mentions "happiness" 26 times. Happiness depends upon what happens to you. So if all the circumstances are right, then you can be happy. But joy comes from inside. Happiness depends upon outward circumstances. Joy comes from inward circumstances. So, our joy is not dependent on outward circumstances, but an inward presence!

Real love and joy can be your mission this week if you are willing to do three things:

1. You Must Put Jesus First! Love and joy are the by-products of being intimately involved with the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. You Must Put Others Second! A perfect example is John 15:5-11. It’s the night before the crucifixion of Jesus. He is in the upper room with His apostles. Soon He will be going to Gethsemane. Soon He will be arrested, tried, and convicted of crimes He did not commit. Soon they will be laughing at Him. Soon they will put a crown of thorns on His head, and mockingly call Him "the king of the Jews." Soon they will slap Him, spit upon Him, and whip Him. Soon His body will be nailed to a cross, and He will die. And He knows that all of this is going to happen. It’s not a very joyful time, is it?

But listen to what He says in John 15:8-11, "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 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." On the last night of

His life, facing the cross, Jesus talks about love and joy. And the next day

He goes to the cross and dies for us. That’s putting others second!

3. You Must Put Yourself Last!

Phil. 2: 5 says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” What kind of attitude was in Christ Jesus? Hebrews 12: 2 says, “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus emptied himself of the glories of heaven, became a man, made that man a servant, and took that body to the cross and willingly died. You see, the joy that was set before Jesus was doing the will of God.

We must be like John who said, “I must decrease and he must increase.” (John 3: 30). How do you put yourself last? Try visiting the nursing home, or mowing someone’s lawn who is not physically able, or serve in our preschool and children’s ministry. These are just a few examples of what it means to put the needs of others above our own.

Until Next Week,

Derek