"The Joy In The Lord"

There is something though that requires us to stay faithful to the Lord, and to not lust after the things of this world: He calls us Friend! Do you remember how you would sneak around and keep things from your parents as a child? It kind of is only natural that we do these things; even when we become adults, we can keep things from our spouses, our children, and even our employers; as though we are hiding something about ourselves, which makes us feel in some way that we have a little advantage over those people: "I know something you don't know". Well guess what: With Jesus, that does not work. And better yet, He does not do that with us either. In John 15:15, Jesus says, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friend; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you." Because He calls us Friend, we have a closer relationship with Him than if He were just Lord; because as just Lord, He becomes standoffish; which means that we will feel intimindated by His presents. Herein is His Joy bestowed upon us: Because He has Joy for us, and for our friendship, we can share in that Joy through the friendship that He offers to us. Okay, maybe a little clearer, please? It's like when you have a certain friend, that no matter what you might feel like, or how sad you might be; as soon as you get around that person, they cheer you up; it's just something about them that causes their joy to rub off on you, and you walk away from your visit feeling happy. This is how He wants us to feel with Him; as we meet with Him and talk with Him, and experience our friendship together, and our friendship with one another in Him; we are to be partaking in His Joy. What happens to us when we partake of His Joy? WE EXPERIENCE HIS LOVE! And when we experience His Love, we produce fruit abundantly. And when we produce fruit abundantly, the Father is glorified!!! "This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My Friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (John 15:12-14)