The Challenge
Earlier this year it came to our attention in Women’s Ministry here at KACC of an actual staff position at another church entitled: Minister of Joy. We have had our share of “joy” teasing about the possible duties of a Minister of Joy. What does a minister of joy do? One day Charlene came into the office and tossed rose petals all about, demonstrating a possible practice for this position. As you can tell, we’ve had fun with this!
Although we have had our fun with this, I have had some more serious thoughts about that title too. According to the Bible, every Christian is called to be a minister. We are given spiritual gifts from Christ Himself in order to accomplish the ministry for which we have been created. Yes, we are created for ministry! (Ephesians 2: 10) Every member of the local church is a minister, not just those of us with titles. Every Christian is a minister. I am a minister and so are you. Do you know what your ministry is? Are you practicing your ministry?
But just as important as knowing our ministry is the way that we practice our ministries. Every one of us should be Ministers of Joy. We have such a great salvation, such a great Lord and Savior, the promise of eternity, the hope of heaven and an abundant life for the taking right now! He has given us purpose for our lives, promises for the future, people to love and be loved by. He has blessed us in so many ways, but are we joyful? Would those closest to us describe us as joyful? Would people who meet you and me identify us as joyful? Do people in your workplace see your joy? Some of the greatest men and women of faith --who have faced unimaginable difficulties-- have been ministers of joy despite their problems. What an inspiration they are! What’s the secret? Can we learn how to be Ministers of Joy too?
I greatly desire to be a joyful person. One of my greatest hopes is that I will bring joy to my husband, my children, extended relatives and friends, as well as those whom I serve in my church. Sometimes, though, I experience joy robbing people and problems and have to dig pretty deep for some joy. And honestly, sometimes my well of joy is dry and I come up empty. Joy in adversity, sickness, and stress are not natural to my human nature, but joy is very natural to the Holy Spirit nature in me. To be joyful doesn’t come easily for most of us, but we can learn how to let the Spirit nature control us, rather than our human nature.
Joy is not about the condition of the circumstances in which we find ourselves, nor even how we feel about them. Joy isn’t a feeling. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit of Christ who lives within every Christian. This fruit should grow as naturally in the heart of a believer, as does as apple on an apple tree. Yet, having some fruit trees in our back yard, I’ve come to learn that not much happens on those trees with out some effort. There is a nurturing process. The trees need water, sunlight, and protection from things that destroy them. It’s a tangible picture of how the joy (and other fruit) in our lives must be well tended.
Every Christian needs water. That is, the water God’s Word, the Bible, to wash us and replenish us, keeping our thinking focused on the promises and purposes that God has for our lives. If we refuse the refreshment of God’s Word and focus on the problems and people who tend to steal our joy, then our joy is in danger of dehydration. Let me ask you this: are you daily drinking in the water of His Word? We can go a little while without water, but we are drying up when we do. It’s the same way when we skip God’s daily drink for our thirsty souls. A joyless heart is one that has gone too long with out splashing in and drinking up the life restoring Word.
Just like the sun is the source of life to our planet, Jesus Christ, the Son, is the source of life to our souls. We need to soak up the “Son” light that Jesus shines on us as we draw near to Him in daily Bible reading and prayer time. We have to spend time in the Son or our fruit will wither and die. Ps. 16:11 reminds us “in His presence is fullness of joy.” This is amazing! We are promised that we’ll experience an overflowing type of joy, but only as we spend time in His presence. Are you daily spending time in the Lord’s presence? If this has not been your practice, will you make room in your day to just sit in the “Son?”
Sometimes, my fruit trees need special protection from pests and diseases. It requires awareness of what’s happening or what could happen. A little preventative action is a great solution for pests and diseases. Likewise, we need protection from the destroyer of our spiritual fruit. We are reminded in II Corinthians 2:11 that we are to be aware of the schemes the enemy has against our lives. There are lots of things that destroy joy, but for us women I’ve discovered that the top three probably include: discouragement, disappointment, and discontentment.
These destroyers are not unlike the pests and diseases that slowly eat away on the fruit trees. Not only is the fruit consumed, but also the very health of the tree can be threatened. Joy destroyers can slowly eat away at our souls too, but it’s our responsibility to identify and protect our hearts and minds from these enemies. How important that we do some preventative work in our lives to keep the joy! Do you know your joy robbers? What will you do to protect your joy from them? It’s a choice that we have.
Will you take a challenge with me at least for a full month? Will you commit to drink from the replenishing Word of God each day? Will you spend time in the “Son,” each day, talking with Him, listening to Him? Will you practice drawing your life and joy from Him, not from circumstances or other relationships that inevitable discourage and disappoint us? Then, will you identify what steals your joy and then purposefully take steps to guard your heart and mind from these enemies? Write it down and pray for God’s protection during your time with Him each day.
Let’s not only know and practice our ministries, but practice them as Ministers of Joy too!
Blessings,
Lee
For the Joy of the Lord is my strength! Nehemiah 8:10